The mother of all battles, India vs. Pakistan, has arrived. Two international cricket heavyweights, the two Asian titans, will face off for the first time in the international Cup 2023. The world will watch the drama unfold on Saturday (October 14) at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. The following is a preview and prediction for the India vs Pakistan World Cup 2023 game.
India leads Pakistan 7-0 in Cricket World Cup history
India leads Pakistan 7-0 in Cricket World Cup history, having previously defeated them in the most recent tournament (in England in 2019). In their prior encounters (one at the Asia Cup 2023), the Men in Blue defeated their arch-rivals by 228 runs in the Super Four stage. Coming off back-to-back World Cup 2023 victories over Australia and Afghanistan, India will have the upper hand entering into this high-octane showdown in Ahmedabad.
Although Shubman Gill’s participation is uncertain as he recovers from dengue fever, India is expected to bat in the same order, with Captain Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan opening the innings. The middle order will remain unchanged, but spectators will notice a shift in the bowling department. It would be a toss-up between Ravi Ashwin and Shardul Thakur for the number eight place, and given the boundary dimensions and the potential performance of the Ahmedabad surface, India may be tempted to bring in the seasoned Ashwin for this encounter.
This World Cup encounter between the two is sure to be thrilling, with both sides giving their all to win
Pakistan has yet to defeat India in the ODI World Cup, but given their success in chasing the biggest team total in World Cup history, dismissing them in this game would be a mistake. Pakistan boasts a dependable opener in Abdullah Shafique, while captain Babar Azam is yet to fire in this CWC, and Muhammad Rizwan is their batter to watch. Given that neither team’s middle order has been thoroughly tested, the onus would be on them in this match. Pakistan’s bowling is their go-to department, and in the absence of explosive Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali has stepped in admirably, bringing up four wickets against Sri Lanka. Along with him, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will be significant players.
This World Cup encounter between India and Pakistan is sure to be thrilling, with both sides giving their all to win. However, considering the fan support and their current run of play, India will be considered the favorites in this match. India’s squad includes captain Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah. Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Muhammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf for Pakistan