IND vs PAK Head to Head, Playing XI, Preview, Where to Watch on TV, Online, and Live Streaming Details

India has a good record against Pakistan at the Asia Cup and also in the T20Is.

Updated - 28 Aug 2022, 18:03 IST

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Fasten your seatbelts as the most-awaited India vs Pakistan clash is not far now. The arch-rivals and one of the biggest rivalries of the sport will be squaring off for the first time since the T20 World Cup 2021. The second game of the Asia Cup 2022, and the first game of Group A will take place between the Men in Blue and the Men in Green.

The Dubai International Stadium will host the fixture. India is in solid form and the Rohit Sharma-led side is backed with multiple wins in the T20 format from their recent tours of England and West Indies, and also a tied series from back in June, against South Africa, where both the teams won two games each. Thus, India has been invincible in the format.

India will be relieved that Pakistan does not have Shaheen Afridi in the side, as the 22-year-old wreaked havoc the last time these two sides met, and as a result, Pakistan won the game by 10 wickets. India would look to plot a perfect act of revenge to level things, but even they will not have the services of their senior experienced bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is also out due to injury.

To turn the tables around and keep the game in their favor, Indian batters Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli will have to be at their best while playing in the top order. Their game will prove to be extremely vital to provide the side with a strong start. India has a bunch of talent in the middle order, with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Dinesh Karthik on the side.

Though Bumrah is missing out, India has the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who’ll lead the bowling attack. There’s great depth in India’s bowling assault which includes veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, and young gun Arshdeep Singh among others. It will be a mouth-watering contest and the fans are surely expected to be on the edge of their seats throughout.

Pitch Conditions

The weather in Dubai is quite warm and dry, and there won’t be much night-time dew. This might also imply that the toss won’t matter too much and that the wicket will ensure a fair battle between the bat and the ball. The teams may, however, elect to bowl first and control the pace while chasing the score in the second half.

Playing Combinations for IND vs PAK

India

Indian players have had some good experiences at the pitches in the UAE. With a strong combination of players, Rohit Sharma would look to begin the campaign on a high note, and winning a game against Pakistan would be no less than a motivational boost. The top-order lineup will have to give out their best to tackle the strong Pakistani bowling attack.

Predicted Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan

Pakistan

Pakistan is in good form too, and the team can never be taken lightly. The opening batters – Skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan – are capable enough to finish off the game single-handedly. If they build on a strong partnership, to begin with, and the middle-order batters hold their nerves, then Pakistan will pose a big threat to the Men in Blue.

Predicted Playing XI: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.