In the World Cup matchup between India and Pakistan in 2023, the ultimate battle might be won or lost.

We outline the crucial areas of the game where IND and PAK must thrive if they want to win.
The oldest of them all must now take place. World Cup matchup: India vs. Pakistan. In addition to being the greatest cricket rivalry, India vs. Pakistan is the Super Bowl divided into five on a worldwide scale. Therefore, it should go without saying that when the stakes are so high, no amount of words, hype, a 0-7 scoreline, or Mauka-Mauka gimmicks can capture the excitement of an India-Pakistan World Cup encounter.

At the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, two teams are preparing for a match that promises to be an unbelievable blast. Babar Azam and his squad are up against history. an extended 31-year wait. India and Pakistan started their World Cup rivalry in 1992, but throughout the three decades’ worth of remarkable events, there has only been one constant. India has triumphed in each and every one of the competitions. However, the Narendra Modi Stadium ushers in a new day, and Pakistan should hold fast to the notion that “it’s never too late.” Every sport knows that streaks can be broken, but whether today will be the day to do it remains to be seen.

Wasim Akram and Sunil Gavaskar, two all-time greats, have frequently emphasized that the winning team is the one that can handle pressure the best. When it comes to India-Pakistan, though, several game phases will determine the result, and those who excel in them are likely to have their hands raised. In light of this, HT Sports outlines the crucial aspects of the game that Pakistan and India need to learn if they want to win.

The temperature of the game will be set here. In the 2017 Champions Trophy final and the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan held the upper hand against India since their seamers destroyed the Men in Blue’s top order. However, there is a catch this time. Shaheen Afridi has given up 103 runs for just two wickets in two World Cup games, while his new-ball partner Naseem Shah is not participating in the competition. With the new ball, Haris Rauf or Hassan Ali are not as dangerous as Shaheen or Naseem, giving India a little advantage. Shaheen’s performance against India in the previous two games was inconsistent, scoring 4/35 and 1/72 respectively. If there’s another, Shaheen.

How Bumrah and Kuldeep are handled by Babar and Pakistan

With the rise of Saud Shakeel, Pakistan’s middle order has reached its peak at precisely the appropriate time. And when combined with Abdullah Shafiq’s finding as the opener and Mohammad Rizwan’s sublime touch, Pakistan’s batting appears to be hitting all the right notes. Until it collides with the blazing Jasprit Bumrah and the cunning Kuldeep Yadav. Bumrah has been a batter’s worst nightmare and a complete threat ever since making his injury-related comeback. What matters is that the pitch be flat. He will be constantly in your alley, snorting past your nose.

The Asia Cup from last month is a prime example. Despite the fact that Kuldeep finished with a five-wicket haul, Pakistan was limited by Bumrah’s early dismissal of Imam-ul-Haq and the ferocious movement he created, which allowed Kuldeep and Hardik Pandya to capitalize on the uncertainty. Babar Azam, who hasn’t exactly lit up the World Cup or his record versus India (averaging 27 in 7 games), scarcely have asked for a better chance. He can be Pakistan’s playmaker if he can make Bumrah uncomfortable. Regarding Kuldeep, the fact that Rizwan spent an hour in the nets on Thursday batting while sweeping and reverse-sweeping a left-arm wristspinner from the area is sufficient evidence of his menace.

If you win the toss, go to bat first.

Chasing in a major match may be more nerve-wracking than anything, and I mean nothing. Look no further than the 2019 World Cup match and the CT final, where the team batting first amassed 338 and 336, respectively. Despite the fact that Pakistan may be entering Ahmedabad on a high after pulling off the most successful World Cup chase ever, the Sri Lankan bowling, with all due respect, cannot compete with India’s bowling staff. The field used for the opening match between England and New Zealand is not the one used for the India-Pakistan game. The probability of an eighth 300-plus total is increased by the initial appearance of the pitch on the eve of the game.

Don’t let the past hold you back.

All good things must come to an end, and this includes India’s streak of World Cup victories over Pakistan. However, the likelihood of both sides deviating from the plan increases as they deliberate more. Although Babar denied that his squad is concerned about whether the pattern will continue, he did acknowledge that India vs. Pakistan is not just another game. Trust us, he must have been reminded of it more times than he can count. For the team batting second, Rohit Sharma was much more composed in handling a pressure-cooker situation.

After India’s 76-run victory over Pakistan in Adelaide during the 2015 World Cup, MS Dhoni predicted the future when he said, “There will be a time when we lose.” It might occur at the upcoming World Cup or four World Cups in the future. It is not something that will endure until the end of time. In other words, the streak may or may not end today, but the less it serves as a catalyst, the better off India and Pakistan will be.

Virat Kohli enjoys batting in opposition to Pakistan. Although the records indicate 665 runs from 15 ODIs, Kohli’s influence goes much beyond these numbers. India triumphs nine out of ten occasions when Kohli is successful versus Pakistan. Examples include the Asia Cup 2012, World T20 2016, World Cup 2019, and most recently, the T20 World Cup from last year. Today, Kohli will again be the focal point of India’s batting against Pakistan.

It is important to note that there is a significant gap between the two in another matchup centered on the Kohli vs. Babar dispute. Babar’s statistics read an unimpressive 204 runs from 8 innings at an average of 28, whereas Kohli’s records read 523 runs from 9 innings with an average of 81.16 in the matches these two greats have played against one another. Run the numbers. Pakistan can change history and get a peaceful night’s sleep if they capture Kohli early. Otherwise, Pakistan might have a difficult night with the potential for another great Kohli performance.