India is all set to take on the Pakistan in Match 12 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Saturday, October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both the teams have a star-studded squad that can change the course of the game with their abilities. India is the favourite to win this encounter against Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have a fierce rivalry in the format. Both teams have played 134 ODI matches, with India winning 56 games and Pakistan winning 73 games so far in the head to head encounters. In this article, we will take a look at the key player battles to watch out for in the match 12 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between India and Pakistan.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan Today Match Possible Playing 11
Here are three player battles to watch out for during IND vs PAK match:
1) Virat Kohli vs Hasan Ali
Virat Kohli has been in exceptional form during the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. He played a match-winning innings against Australia in the tournament’s opening match, scoring 85 runs off 116 deliveries with six boundaries.
The star batter continued his fine form with another half-century against Afghanistan in the subsequent game, and he’s eager to maintain the momentum. Kohli holds a favorable record against Hasan Ali, having scored 44 runs off the fast bowler at a brisk strike rate of 151.7.
2) Kuldeep Yadav vs Babar Azam
Babar Azam has struggled to find his form since the Asia Cup, and there’s no more significant stage or occasion than facing India in India for his resurgence. However, he faces a formidable challenge in the form of his nemesis, Kuldeep Yadav.
Despite their limited encounters, with just four matches to their name, Kuldeep has triumphed over Babar on two occasions.In their last encounter, Kuldeep even accomplished the remarkable feat of claiming a five-wicket haul against Pakistan.
3) Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is enjoying a fantastic year in one-day cricket. He recently notched a century against Afghanistan, leading India to a resounding victory. Rohit appeared to be in complete command against the bowling attack, dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground.
His battle with Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi will be a matchup worth watching. In the three ODIs where they’ve faced each other, Rohit was dismissed once by Shaheen, while Rohit managed to score 33 runs from 42 deliveries.