India Win the Toss and Bowl First
The greatest cricket rivalry comes to life at Ahmedabad in the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket Worldcup 2023. The host, India, are taking on their arch-rival, Pakistan in the 12th match of ICC Men’s CWC2023. India have a magnificent record against Pakistan in ICC Cricket WCs as they fully dominate with 7-0. Pakistan have never beaten India in 7 games played between them in ICC cricket CWC.
India and Pakistan are still unbeaten in the ICC CWC23. India have beaten Australia and Afghanistan. On the other hand, Pakistan have also beaten Sri Lanka and Netherlands in the tournament. India stand 3rd on the points table of ICC Men’s CWC 23 with 1.500 NRR whereas Pakistan stand 4th with 0.927 NRR. Moreover, the winner of today’s match between IND and PAK will also claim the 1st spot in the ICC Men’s ODI ranking.
Indian and Pakistani skippers are down to the middle with Ravi Shastri for the toss. Rohit Sharma wins the coin-battle and elects to field first. Pakistan skipper, too, wants to bowl first on this flat track that isn’t expected to change much.
PAK Playing XI vs IND | ICC CWC23
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi.
IND Playing XI vs PAK | ICC CWC23
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shubman Gill
Pakistan enter in to the competition with the same winning combination while India allow Shubman Gill for Ishan Kishan.
The two Pakistani openers: Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique, centurion in the previous game, are right inthe middle to opening the innings for Pakistan and eye at setting a handsome total against the favourites. Whereas, Bumrah and Muhammad Siraj get the ball in hand for the first power play.
Both openers provide a steady start for Pakistan. Abdullah Shafique looks threatening as he’s undone by a very low bounce from Muhammad Siraj. He goes after scoring 20 off 24 including 3 boundaries. PAK are done with their first Power play against IND and post 49 for 1 at 4.90.
The second phase 11-20 seems an equal share for both teams as Pakistan manage 54 at 5.40 while India takes down Imam ul Haq. At hte end of 20 Pakistan are 103 for the loss of 2 and at 5.15. They score 8 boundaries in this phase while same no of boundaries in the 1st power play.
Pakistan tail-enders can’t cope with the Indian spin attack as Hassan Ali and then Haris Rauf are the last man to get out by Ravindra Jadeja. PAK are bowled out at 191 in the 43rd over. No middle order batter and tail-ender could cross double figures except Hassan Ali. IND need 192 at 3.84.
