IND vs PAK Match Preview
Gill has traveled to Ahmedabad with the team and also participated in a practice session on Thursday. However, it is unlikely that he will be included in the playing XI.
Nevertheless, India possesses a strong batting lineup. Ishan Kishan, who has taken Gill's place at the top of the order, has performed well in recent months and will be eager to continue his good form. Additionally, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul are all in excellent form.
Initially, India had concerns about their middle-order batting, but with Shreyas Iyer finding some runs, the selectors will be confident in his ability. The Ahmedabad pitch may provide good pace and bounce, which could be advantageous for a player like Suryakumar Yadav.
As anticipated, Jasprit Bumrah has been the standout bowler for India, taking 6 wickets in 2 matches. Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya have been a bit expensive, but it is only a matter of time before they find their rhythm.
The spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, have each taken 3 wickets and have been economical as well.
Young Abdullah Shafique, who was participating in only his fifth One Day International (ODI), displayed exceptional skill by scoring a remarkable century against Sri Lanka. He stood resolutely alongside Mohammad Rizwan, who showcased his expertise by remaining unbeaten on 131 runs. Despite this victory, Pakistan still faces numerous challenges that need to be addressed before the upcoming weekend.
Both Imam and Babar have been struggling to find their best form, and the middle order has also failed to consistently perform. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the form of certain bowlers, particularly Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has not achieved much success in the past two matches.
On a positive note, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali have collectively taken 11 wickets and will aim to make early breakthroughs in the Indian batting lineup. However, Pakistan lacks a high-quality spin attack.
It is worth noting that Pakistan possesses a stronger batting lineup than many anticipate, and it also boasts significant depth. Although the bowling attack may not be as penetrating as desired by its supporters, the team has proven its ability to elevate their performance and deliver an outstanding display.
Weather Report
The weather will remain warm and sultry with temperatures between 30-35 degrees throughout the day. The dew might be a factor in the second half.
Pitch Report
The stadium hosted the opening fixture of this tournament which saw more than 550 runs scored and we can expect another high-scoring encounter. The seamers will get some movement early on in the match and the batsmen will need to tread a bit carefully.
However, once they have seen away the new ball, they can start playing their shots. The team batting first will look to get at least 300 on the board to put the opposition under pressure.
The surface is a bit dry and there will be some turn for the spinners.
Notable stats
Rohit Sharma: World Cup Legend
Rohit Sharma scored a century on Wednesday against Afghanistan, which was his 7th overall in ODI World Cups. He now has the most triple-digit scores in World Cups and has scored an aggregate of 1109 runs at an average of 65.23.
Team News
Shubman Gill continues to be on the watchlist but the chances of his playing seem slim at the moment.
IND vs PAK Probable 11
IND Playing 11
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Ishan Kishan
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (Wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
PAK Playing 11
- Abdullah Shafique
- Imam Ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (C)
- Mohammad Rizwan (Wk)
- Saud Shakeel
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Haris Rauf
- Hasan Ali
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Dream11 Prediction
We are backing India to win this match. They have an unbeaten record against Pakistan when it comes to ODI World Cups and looking at the form of the current squad, they are well on the way to maintaining it. Pakistan has often choked under pressure and the poor form of some of its key players will be a cause of concern for them.
Top Picks
Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli is in excellent form of late and has scored half-centuries in each of his last 3 ODI innings. He has an excellent record against Pakistan and has scored 662 runs against them at an average of 55.17.
Ravindra Jadeja: A potent all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja has picked up 14 wickets in ODI World Cups and also scored 134 runs at a strike rate of 113.56.
Haris Rauf: Haris Rauf has been in good form with the ball and has picked up 14 wickets in the last 6 matches.
IND vs PAK Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: M Rizwan, I Kishan
Batters: R Sharma, V Kohli (C), B Azam
All-rounders: S Khan, R Jadeja (VC)
Bowlers: J Bumrah, S Afridi, H Rauf, K Yadav