Men's T20 World Cup 2024 India vs Pakistan, 19th Match

India vs Pakistan Men's T20 World Cup 2024 19th Match. "The pitch is much better today," Ravi Shastri told Cricbuzz after conducting the toss for the Canada vs Ireland game on Friday. His observation proved accurate, as the match featured a well-balanced contest between bat and ball, a notable improvement from recent encounters. Previously, this website reported that the International Cricket Council (ICC) was taking measures to prevent low-scoring games due to dangerous pitch conditions.

In an unprecedented twist, the pitch has drawn more attention ahead of the India-Pakistan game than the traditional focus on the rivalry, individual match-ups, and Pakistan's struggle to break India's World Cup dominance. With Pakistan's formidable pace attack, including Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, concerns about the pitch's behavior are particularly pronounced.

The new ball will be crucial, with early wickets likely falling to the swinging and bouncing delivery. The PowerPlay overs will be less about run-scoring and more about preserving wickets. Caution will be key in these early stages.

In their last T20 World Cup encounter at the MCG in 2022, India was in trouble at 31 for 4 in 6.1 overs, though they managed to chase down 160 thanks to Virat Kohli's brilliance. In New York, batters are expected to exploit the bowling once the ball ages, making wickets in hand more critical than early runs. India's opening pair, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are well-equipped to handle this challenge.

However, there are key match-ups to consider. Rohit has struggled against left-arm pacers like Afridi and Amir, while Kohli's record against Rauf could influence the game's early overs. With limited spin assistance, batters may target spinners, and India's Shivam Dube could play a pivotal role in this strategy. Including Kuldeep Yadav, given his strong record against Pakistan, might also be advantageous.

After an unexpected loss to the USA, Pakistan is under pressure but not unfamiliar with bouncing back from upsets. Former captain Ramiz Raja urged unity and resilience, noting the unpredictability of New York's conditions as an opportunity against a stronger Indian side.

Match Details:

• When: India vs Pakistan, June 09, 10:30 AM Local, 8 PM IST
• Where: Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
• What to Expect: A high-octane contest with heightened emotions on and off the field. India, with a stronger batting lineup, are favorites, but in an India-Pakistan match, form and records often don't matter. The pitch is expected to favor fast bowlers, likely leading to a low-scoring but fiercely contested game.

Head to Head: India leads 6-1 in their seven T20 World Cup meetings against Pakistan. Each of the last five T20 WC games between these teams has been won by the chasing side.

Team Watches:

India:

• Injuries/Unavailability: No expected changes in the four-pronged pace attack. A potential change could be bringing in Kuldeep Yadav, known for his effectiveness against Pakistan, in place of Axar Patel.
• Tactics & Matchups: Considering Rizwan and Babar's struggles against left-arm spin, Axar Patel might bowl early to seek an early breakthrough.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh

Pakistan:

• Injuries/Unavailability: Coach Gary Kirsten, familiar with Indian players, may develop a strategy to counter India's strengths. Shadab Khan's place might be under scrutiny due to the pitch's lack of spin support, with Saim Ayub as a possible replacement to strengthen the batting.
• Tactics & Matchups: Indian openers Rohit and Kohli's vulnerability to left-arm seamers in PowerPlays makes their match-up against Afridi and Amir crucial.

Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir

Did you know?

• Kohli has four Player of the Match awards in India vs Pakistan T20Is, the most by any player.
• Mohammad Rizwan will play his 100th T20I.
• Iftikhar Ahmed needs 7 runs to complete 1000 in T20Is.
• Haris Rauf is 4 wickets away from 100 T20I wickets.

Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Abbas Afridi.