The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is in full swing and today we are going to witness one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament: India vs Pakistan. This is not just a game of cricket, it is a clash of emotions, pride, and history. It is a battle between two nations that have a long and complex relationship, both on and off the field.
India and Pakistan have played each other 12 times in the World Cup, with India winning all of them. The last time they met was in 2019, when India thrashed Pakistan by 89 runs in Manchester. Can Pakistan break the jinx and register their first World Cup win against India? Or will India continue their dominance and make it 13-0?
## The History of the Rivalry
The cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan dates back to 1952, when they played their first Test series. Since then, they have played 199 matches across all formats, with India winning 73, Pakistan winning 86, and 40 ending in a draw or no result. However, the rivalry goes beyond the numbers. It is influenced by the political and cultural tensions that exist between the two countries, which were once part of the same British colony before partition in 1947.
The partition resulted in violence, displacement, and hostility between millions of people on both sides of the border. Cricket became a medium to express these sentiments and to assert national identity. The matches between India and Pakistan often attract huge crowds, media attention, and political involvement. They also generate a lot of passion, excitement, and drama among the fans and players.
Some of the most memorable moments of this rivalry include:
- The 1986 Austral-Asia Cup final in Sharjah, where Javed Miandad hit a six off the last ball to win the match for Pakistan.
- The 1992 World Cup match in Sydney, where Sachin Tendulkar scored his first ODI century and India defended a low total of 216 against a strong Pakistani batting line-up.
- The 1996 World Cup quarter-final in Bangalore, where Ajay Jadeja smashed Waqar Younis for 22 runs in an over and Venkatesh Prasad bowled Aamer Sohail after a heated exchange of words.
- The 1999 World Cup match in Manchester, where Venkatesh Prasad took five wickets and Sachin Tendulkar played with a back injury to guide India to a comfortable win.
- The 2003 World Cup match in Centurion, where Sachin Tendulkar scored a masterful 98 and India chased down 274 with six wickets in hand.
- The 2007 World T20 final in Johannesburg, where India beat Pakistan by five runs in a thrilling encounter that went down to the last over.
- The 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali, where India defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in front of a packed stadium and the prime ministers of both countries.
- The 2017 Champions Trophy final in London, where Pakistan stunned India by 180 runs and lifted their first major ICC trophy since 1992.
## The Current Scenario
The current scenario of the cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is quite different from the past. Due to political reasons, they have not played any bilateral series since 2013. They only meet in ICC events or Asia Cup tournaments. This has reduced the frequency and intensity of their encounters. However, it has also increased the anticipation and hype whenever they face each other.
The current teams of India and Pakistan are also very different from each other. India is one of the strongest teams in world cricket, with a formidable batting line-up, a balanced bowling attack, and an agile fielding unit. They are ranked second in ODIs and Tests, and third in T20Is. They have won two World Cups (1983 and 2011), one World T20 (2007), and three Champions Trophies (2002, 2013, and 2023). They are led by Virat Kohli, who is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time.
Pakistan, on the other hand, is one of the most unpredictable teams in world cricket. They have a talented but inconsistent batting line-up, a potent but erratic bowling attack, and a sloppy but spirited fielding unit. They are ranked sixth in ODIs and Tests, and fourth in T20Is. They have won one World Cup (1992), one World T20 (2009), and one Champions Trophy (2017). They are led by Babar Azam, who is one of the most elegant batsmen of his generation.
## The Match Preview
The match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on October 14, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This is the 12th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, and both teams will play their third match of the tournament. Both teams have won their first two matches and are at the top of their respective groups.
India started their campaign with a convincing win over South Africa by 124 runs, followed by a clinical win over Afghanistan by nine wickets. They have been in sublime form, with Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli scoring heavily, and Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja bowling superbly. They have also been excellent in the field, with Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Ravichandran Ashwin contributing with their athleticism and skills.
Pakistan began their campaign with a stunning win over Australia by six wickets, followed by a record-breaking win over Sri Lanka by 10 wickets. They have been in sensational form, with Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, and Babar Azam scoring centuries, and Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Shadab Khan bowling brilliantly. They have also been impressive in the field, with Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, and Imad Wasim contributing with their energy and experience.
The match between India and Pakistan is expected to be a high-octane affair, with both teams having a lot at stake. The winner of this match will not only gain two crucial points but also a psychological edge over their arch-rivals. The loser of this match will not only face a dent in their confidence but also a backlash from their fans. The match will also have a huge impact on the overall standings of the tournament, as both teams are aiming to finish at the top of their groups and secure a place in the semi-finals.
## The Key Players
The match between India and Pakistan will feature some of the best players in world cricket, who have the ability to change the course of the game with their skills and temperament.
Here are some of the key players to watch out for:
- Virat Kohli: The captain of India and the world's number one ODI batsman, Virat Kohli is a run-machine who can score runs in any situation and against any opposition. He has scored 12,169 runs in 254 ODIs at an average of 59.07 and a strike rate of 93.17. He has also scored 43 centuries and 62 half-centuries. He has a special record against Pakistan, having scored 1,313 runs in 27 ODIs at an average of 54.71 and a strike rate of 96.08. He has also scored five centuries and six half-centuries against them. He is the leading run-scorer in India-Pakistan World Cup matches, having scored 477 runs in six matches at an average of 95.40 and a strike rate of 98.13. He has also scored two centuries and two half-centuries against them in World Cups.
- Babar Azam: The captain of Pakistan and the world's number two ODI batsman, Babar Azam is a class act who can play shots all around the wicket with grace and elegance. He has scored 4,075 runs in 86 ODIs at an average of 56.04 and a strike rate of 89.69. He has also scored 14 centuries and 18 half-centuries. He has a decent record against India, having scored 335 runs in seven ODIs at an average of 47.85 and a strike rate of 84.34. He has also scored one century and one half-century against them. He is the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in India-Pakistan World Cup matches, having scored 114 runs in two matches at an average of 57.00 and a strike rate of 87.69.
- Jasprit Bumrah: The spearhead of India's bowling attack and the world's number three ODI bowler, Jasprit Bumrah is a lethal weapon who can bowl fast yorkers, bouncers, slower balls, and cutters with pinpoint accuracy. He has taken 113 wickets in 68 ODIs at an average of 24.43 and an economy rate of 4.65. He has also taken four five-wicket hauls and six four-wicket hauls. He has a brilliant record against Pakistan, having taken 15 wickets in seven ODIs at an average of 16.86 and an economy rate of 3.77. He has also taken one five-wicket haul and one four-wicket haul against them.
- Shaheen Afridi: The leader of Pakistan's bowling attack and the world's number four ODI bowler, Shaheen Afridi is a prodigy who can bowl fast inswswing and seam. He has taken 72 wickets in 46 ODIs at an average of 25.66 and an economy rate of 5.16. He has also taken one five-wicket haul and three four-wicket hauls. He has a decent record against India, having taken six wickets in four ODIs at an average of 36.33 and an economy rate of 5.67.
- Mohammad Rizwan: The wicket-keeper batsman of Pakistan and the world's number seven ODI batsman, Mohammad Rizwan is a consistent performer who can anchor the innings with his solid batting. He has scored 2,057 runs in 51 ODIs at an average of 54.13 and a strike rate of 91.76. He has also scored five centuries and ten half-centuries. He has a poor record against India, having scored only 12 runs in two ODIs at an average of 6.00 and a strike rate of 40.00.
## The Match Prediction
The match between India and Pakistan is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. India have the edge in batting, bowling, and fielding, while Pakistan have the advantage in unpredictability, momentum, and crowd support. The match could be decided by the toss, the pitch conditions, the weather, and the individual brilliance of some players.
Based on the current form and performance of both teams, we predict that India will win the match by a narrow margin and maintain their unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cups.