File photo of Sanju Samson
The 19th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be a highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The match is scheduled for June 9 at 8 PM Indian Standard Time. India will be coming into this match riding high on momentum after winning their opening match of the tournament. In contrast, Pakistan will be looking to bounce back from their opening match loss. This high-stakes match is crucial for both teams as they aim to qualify for the knockout stage.
India are unlikely to make any changes to their line-up having beaten Ireland in their opening match of the season. However, some have suggested that the team might benefit from starting Sanju Samson instead of Shivam Dube in this encounter, given how well he has performed against pacers. But will India captain Rohit Sharma take the chance? It seems unlikely at this stage.
India will likely use the following 11 players against Pakistan:
Rohit Sharma (centre), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suriya Kumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
IND vs PAK, head-to-head
India and Pakistan have faced each other 12 times in T20 encounters, with Indian batsmen consistently contributing the most fantasy points to their team while Pakistani bowlers have contributed the most fantasy points to their team.
Their most recent encounter was at the Super 12 stage of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, where Hardik Pandya put in a standout performance with 132 fantasy points for India while Iftikhar Ahmed led the way with 83 points for Pakistan.
India vs Pakistan, top players to watch
1. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
Shaheen Afridi is a formidable left-arm fast bowler who has picked up nine wickets in his last five matches and has shown his ability to attack early and put the opposition under pressure.
2. Akshar Patel (India)
Akshar Patel is a valuable all-rounder known for his slow left-arm orthodox delivery. He has demonstrated his prowess with both bat and ball, taking four wickets and scoring 86 runs in his last five matches.
3. Virat Kohli (India)
Right-handed top-order batsman Virat Kohli remains India’s key player, having scored 108 runs in his last five matches and bringing consistency and experience with the bat.
4. Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s captain and top-order batsman, right-handed Babar Azam, has been in good form, scoring 187 runs in the last five matches, and his leadership and batting prowess have been crucial to Pakistan’s success.
5. Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, known for his lethal yoke and pace, has become an integral part of India’s pitching attack, claiming nine wickets in the last five matches.
6. Mohammed Rizwan (Pakistan)
Top-order right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper Mohammed Rizwan has been a consistent performer with the batting, scoring 163 runs in his last five matches. His performance in the dual role of a reliable batsman and sharp wicket-keeper adds great value to the team.
The encounter promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the biggest names in cricket, with both teams eager to win and pick up crucial points in the World Cup.
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