Match Preview
IND vs PAK: The greatest Asian rivalry in cricket is all set to commence on 23rd October 2022. India and Pakistan will clash in the 14th match of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022. The duo will play their opening game of the tournament against each other in a high-profile game. The MCG, Melbourne will host the match.
Team India received a setback when Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out owing to a back injury. However, his replacement, Mohammad Shami, has started his quest to fill his shoes perfectly in the warm-up game against Australia. After suffering heartbreak in the Asia Cup, they came back nicely in the bilateral series against Australia and South Africa. However, they still need to bring their A-game for this fixture.
Meanwhile, Pakistan won the Tri-Series against New Zealand recently. The opening duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are the pillars of the team. Shaheen Shah Afridi is returning for the main tournament post recovery from injury. Hence, they have a balanced and lethal side on paper. However, the conditions are different and the middle-order woes are still a headache for them.
Match Details for IND vs PAK
Series: ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022
Date: 23rd October 2022
Time: 1:30 PM IST
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Live Streaming: Star Sports, Hotstar
Pitch Report for IND vs PAK
Heavy rain has been hammering Melbourne for the last couple of days. Rain is predicted during the match as well, especially in the second innings. Hence, we might not get a full 20-over game per side. However, if the rain subsides, the pacers will benefit from the pitch a lot. Hence, fielding first could be a preferred choice for the captains.
Probable Playing XI
India
Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Pakistan
Mohammed Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shan Masood, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
Match Predictions for IND vs PAK
India-Pakistan games are always high-pressure games for both teams. Hence, keeping the nerves will be a challenge for the duo. Both teams are nicely placed as a unit. The two met twice in the Asia Cup 2022, with both winning one game each. An enthralling and exciting game of cricket is on the cards for sure. Overall, India will emerge the winner of this contest, at the mercy of the rain gods, of course.
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