Gear up for the most anticipated match of the Cricket WC so far, India vs Pakistan preview
Forget the political tensions, forget the religious conflicts, forget the fan battles on social media, forget the sly ads. It all comes down to a contest between bat and ball to decide who has the bragging rights for the next few years. It is the most anticipated match of the World Cup. It is India vs Pakistan. The game brings the best out of both sets of players and fans, the world will watch as blue take on green at Old Trafford in front of a record crowd.
Form:-
The head to head between the two nations India Vs Pakistan in World Cups reads 6–0 in the favour of India. After losing to Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, India crushed Pakistan twice in the 2018 Asia Cup.
Pakistan have had a mixed campaign so far. After a humbling loss to the West Indies, Pakistan stunned England before stumbling against Australia. India look a balanced side and are yet to be beaten this campaign.
Pakistan will be aware of Fakhar Zaman’s poor form and the bowlers’ insipid display against the Aussies. India will rely on KL Rahul to fill Dhawan’s shoes at the top.
Predicted XIs:-
India:- Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Vijay Shankar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(wk), Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan:- Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir
Pitch and Conditions:-
The pitch is flat and has very little grass. This means that the spinners can get turn. However there is a 60% chance of precipitation and overcast conditions all day, which might help the pacers get some early swing. A complete washout is a looming possibility.
Strategy:-
Pakistan must try to get Kohli in early and put pressure on him. This worked in the Champions Trophy final, as Mohammad Amir used swing to rattle the Indian top order. Kohli succumbed to the pressure and this handed the match to Pakistan.
India will have plans in place for every Pakistani batsmen. The spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will look to get vital wickets but in Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, Pakistan have some experience in their middle order.
Pakistan will try to use their unpredictability as an advantage and surprise India. India will bank on their tried and tested players and will hope that continuity will be their biggest asset.
X-Factors:-
Kedar Jadhav has the uncanny ability of foxing the best of batsmen to make silly errors. He is handy with the bat as well and will be used as a finisher.
Babar Azam looked graceful against Australia but is yet to make a telling contribution. He is an excellent player of spin and will look to counter the Indian spinners.
The battle between Mohammad Amir and the Indian top order will be crucial in deciding where the momentum lies.
Hardik Pandya is in the form of his life with bat in hand. He always has something special in his locker when facing Pakistan.
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Originally published at Sporcial.
