India began their T20 World Cup campaign in Zimbabwe and won all their games, while Pakistan has had a rather different experience in the tournament. Now they will play today against India on a rather difficult New York pitch at Nassau County Stadium on Sunday. This much-hyped game has been awaited with bated breath by cricket lovers in both countries as well as around the world since the match-fixing was released six months ago.
Both of these teams have gathered some of the most talented cricket players across the globe, and the games between them have witnessed thrilling moments in the past.
India’s Captain Rohit Sharma vs. Shaheen Afridi
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Another factor that has characterized the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has been the confrontation that has continuously been between the Indian batsmen and the Pakistani fastmen. The last crusade of the age-old competition has been the fight between India’s Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi.
A lively and aggressive right-arm fast bowler with the new ball whose in-swing is sheer deadly. This was evident for Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup 2021, when Afridi bowled him with the first delivery he faced from Afridi.
During their next face-off in the T20 World Cup 2022 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rohit could score only four balls against five balls from Afridi. This intense confrontation has also been witnessed in ODIs, and the most recent bind was that Rohit has been given a total of outs by Afridi in three out of the latest four India-Pakistan matches.
On the spicy New York wicket, famed for assisting fast bowlers with rude orders and electronic exercise,. Afridi’s pace will come up against Rohit’s prowess in handling any bowling attack, no matter the condition of the pitch. Rohit, who came up with a brilliant 37-ball 52, will be looking to carry this forward.
Also read: Babar Azam Shares His Perspective On Pakistan’s Shocking Defeat to USA in T20 World Cup Thriller
Virat Kohli vs. Mohammad Amir
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Though fierce competitors on the field, Virat Kohli and Mohammad Amir share immense respect for it. Kohli has termed Amir “one of the toughest bowlers” he has ever faced, while Amir has labeled Kohli his “favorite batter in recent times.”
Kohli vs. Amir was one of the most anticipated battles before Amir retired from international cricket in 2022. Amir’s return to the Pakistan squad has reignited this iconic duel. Kohli is known for saving his best for the biggest occasions.
Kohli has scored 308 runs against Pakistan in five T20 World Cup matches, often singlehandedly leading India to victory. His scores in these encounters read 78 not out, 36 not out, 55 not out, 57, and 82 not out.
Amir, on the other hand, delivered a sizzling opening spell in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, securing Pakistan’s last ICC title. He dismissed Kohli almost twice in two balls during that match—first with a dropped catch in the slips and then caught at backward point. In their subsequent meeting at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Amir dismissed Kohli again, but only after the latter had scored a sparkling 77.
In T20Is, Amir has allowed Kohli only 16 runs from 19 balls across two matches in 2016, although he has yet to dismiss him. Notably, Kohli has yet to hit Amir for a six in international cricket, adding another layer of intrigue to their battle.
Also read: Fawad Alam Backs Mohammad Amir and Sensational Babar Azam for Crucial India Clash
The Stakes and the Anticipation
As India and Pakistan prepare for this high-stakes encounter, the excitement is palpable. Both teams will aim to leverage their star players’ strengths while adapting to the tricky New York pitch. The match promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with key battles potentially defining the outcome. Cricket fans around the globe will be watching in awe as these two cricketing giants clash once more on the grand stage.
Also read: Super Over Drama That Leads to the Victory For USA: Historic Upset For Pakistani Team
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