This is it: the clash that everyone had been waiting for almost a year is here: India vs Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2022.
The arch-rivals will square off on Sunday evening for the second game of Group 2 of the Super 12 round. The epic clash will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, with over 100,000 seats sold out.
India are coming off twin T20I series wins over Australia and South Africa at home before defeating Australia in the warm-up fixture by 6 runs. And despite the absence of Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, India is considered a strong contender because of their batting might.
Pakistan has their bowling as their strength – the sexiest fast bowling unit in the tournament comprising three proper fast bowlers who excel in all three phases of the game plus the support of quality spinners who turn the ball away from right-handers. Pakistan, after losing the Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka, won the tri-series against New Zealand and Bangladesh.
IND vs PAK Pitch report, weather, date, and time
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Weather: We feel dejected to bring you some bad weather news: There is currently a 90% chance of any rain on Sunday in Melbourne, with between 10 to 25mm forecast. The game is likely to be affected by rain, overs cut down – or dare I say, the match could even be whitewashed. To note: a minimum of 5 overs per side is required to obtain a result.
IND vs PAK Pitch report:
MCG is perhaps the world’s largest stadium, ground dimension-wise, with boundaries as far as 78 meters, making six-hitting a comparatively tougher task and thus both spinners and pacers won’t mind being hit down the ground to make catching chances at long-on and long-off.
The MCG surfaces in the last three years have been favoring batters, making shot-playing a smooth task, but it is the boundary dimensions that trouble the batters in hitting sixes, although a large number of fours have been seen at this venue. So expect batters like Kohli, Babar Azam, and Rizwan to find the gaps while some of the power hitters might not be successful in aiming for sixes. There will be also pace on offer from the pitch.
Date and Time: October 23, 1.30 PM IST
Telecast: Star Sports Network
IND vs PAK Predicted XIs:
Arguably 8-9 players of India’s best XI pick themselves. The question remains regarding the second spinner and the third seamer.
India predicted XI:
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal/R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami/Harshal Patel, Arashdeep Singh
Pakistan also has a largely settled first XI. We are not expecting any surprise exclusion or inclusion from the Men In Green. They are though fretting over the fitness of Shan Masood and should Masood be unfit, Fakhar Zaman will slot in back at number 3.
Pakistan predicted XI:
Mohammed Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman/Shan Masood, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
IND vs PAK Match Prediction: India to win the match
India will desperately want to start off on a winning note and take revenge for last year’s defeat in Dubai. Considering that matches in Australia are not as dependent on toss outcomes as they were in the UAE, we are backing India’s batting might to properly counter the Pakistani bowling. Pakistan have much bigger middle-order issues than their opponents, so all India will need is to remove the two Pakistani lynchpins at the top and move toward victory.
Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, knowledge, and instinct of the writer. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.
