Battle of the nerves: Pak-India clash today in World Cup 2023

AHMEDABAD: In a high-stakes clash, Pakistan is set to take on arch-rivals India in Match 12 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium today.

The eagerly anticipated showdown will be witnessed by a crowd of 130,000 at the stadium, with millions more tuning in via their television screens and digital devices.

India enters the match as the favorites, enjoying the home advantage and a strong start to the World Cup campaign with victories against Australia and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan has maintained its winning streak in the tournament by defeating Netherlands and Sri Lanka. Babar Azam and his team are determined to halt India’s winning streak in the ODI World Cups.

India holds a dominant 7-0 head-to-head record against Pakistan in the history of the tournament, adding extra spice to this fierce World Cup rivalry. The importance of the toss is crucial in this contest, with a high probability that the team winning the toss will choose to bowl first, following a similar strategy seen in the opening World Cup match at Ahmedabad Stadium, where the team that won the toss, bowled first, and emerged victorious.

India has won the toss in the last seven Pakistan-India World Cup matches, with India winning the toss five times and Pakistan twice. On all five occasions, India chose to bowl first, while Pakistan opted to bat once and bowl once.

World Cup 2023: Excitement grows for the Pak vs India showdown in Ahmedabad

Experts unanimously agree that a Pakistan-India clash, particularly in a high-profile World Cup encounter, is a test of nerves. The team that handles the pressure better is likely to emerge as the victor.

Pakistan team captain Babar Azam acknowledges the challenge of facing a formidable opponent on their home turf but sees it as a golden opportunity to shine in front of their fans.

Pakistan’s lead pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been nursing a finger injury, has taken two wickets in two games. Babar expresses confidence in Shaheen’s ability to deliver in this blockbuster match, citing him as their key bowler for the contest.

Squads

Pakistan:

Captain: Babar Azam, Players: Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.

India:

Captain: Rohit Sharma, Vice-Captain: Hardik Pandya, Players: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.