The most anticipated match of the T20 World Cup 2022 between India and Pakistan is all set to be held on Sunday in Melbourne. This is a repeat of last year’s group stage match between the two archrivals, where Pakistan eventually came out as the winner. Can India take revenge for their loss to Pakistan in the 2021 World Cup?
India vs Pakistan Group 2 Match Preview
The stakes are always high when India and Pakistan meet each other, especially in a cricket contest. The sole reason for that is the history between the two countries over the years. The players feel the heat and sometimes it reflects on their performance. Those who keep calm and are determined to deliver their best effort on most occasions come out as winners. There will be no difference in Sunday's group stage clash.
Around 100,000 spectators at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) are expected to watch the India vs Pakistan match from the stands. Not to mention, billions will be watching through TV and online platforms.
Pakistan vs India: H2H Record
Both sides have hardly played against each other in recent times. They have played mostly in big events in recent times, where the Indian team has maintained dominance over Pakistan. In 11 T20I meetings, India have won 8, while Pakistan have 3 victories. Even in ICC’s T20 World Cup events, India has a better record over Pakistan with 4 wins in 6 matches. Pakistan’s only victory against India in the T20 World Cup came in the 2021 edition.
Pakistan vs India Match Schedule
The match will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday (October 23). As per the fixture, the game will start at 2 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Melbourne Cricket Ground stats
The MCG is one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the world and is where the Pakistan vs India match will take place. So far, 15 T20I matches have been played at this venue, where the chasing team has a better winning record. Here are some key stats of the ground.
Matches Played (T20I): 15 | Bat First Won: 5 | Bat Second Won: 9 | Highest Team Innings: 184/3 | Lowest Team Innings: 74 | Highest Run Chased: 172/5 | Highest Individual Innings: 89 | Best Bowling Figure: 4/30
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Favourites to make it to the semifinals
Melbourne weather and pitch report
There is a strong possibility of rain on Sunday in Melbourne, so the contest may be halted due to bad weather conditions. The chasing team has a strong record at this venue. The toss-winning captain will consider this stat when making his decision.
India vs Pakistan 2022: Who will make the playing XI
There is no shortage of talents on either side in their respective squads. Picking the right combination, therefore, would be a real challenge for each side. Pakistan have some world-class fast bowlers, while India have some ideal T20 format batters. It will therefore be a contest between Pakistan bowlers and Indian batters. Here is the predicted playing XI for both sides.
India (predicted playing XI)
Top-Order: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Middle-Order: Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Lower-Order: Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh
Pakistan (predicted playing XI)
Top-Order: Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam (captain), Shan Masood, Middle-Order: Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Lower-Order: Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf
Aftermath
The pressure will be on the players of both sides to deliver in this India vs Pakistan match. The winner of the contest will take a big step forward in order to finish in the top two in the Group 2 points table of the T20 World Cup 2022. There will be no room for error, and cricket fans can anticipate another historic contest between the two teams.
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Bangladesh’s past record with Super 12 opponents