Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

Disclaimer: Links in this article are part of a sponsorship for the 2022 T20 World Cup where CricBlog has received a fee.

As soon as tickets were on sale, they were gone in almost the blink of an eye. The iconic MCG will be a sea of both blue and green, as India aim to get one back on Pakistan after the hammering in Dubai a year ago. Indeed, in what looks to be a very competitive group, the two points upfront might prove vital in the final analysis, along with the bragging rights that come with such a big game.

However, it’s the weather that has dominated the conversation ahead of this huge clash. Heavy rain and flooding has impacted Victoria badly in recent weeks, with more rain forecast over the weekend. But, as was the case in the 2019 ODI World Cup, the forecast gradually improved as the India-Pakistan game drew closer, and conditions look much more promising for this mega clash.

Now onto the cricket. This match is rife with key player battles to watch out for, most notably the returning Shaheen Shah Afridi against India’s top order. Also, whether Pakistan’s batting can produce the goods beyond Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan is a big question. However, the form of Mohammad Nawaz with the bat is a big plus for Pakistan, and he is capable of some big runs in the middle overs, as he showed in the Asia Cup against India.

IND vs PAK Possible Playing XI

The make up of India’s attack will be of focus. Mohammed Shami was excellent in the final over of the warm-up against Australia, so he could get the nod over Harshal Patel.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. KL Rahul, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Hardik Pandya, 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Axar Patel, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Mohammed Shami/Harshal Patel, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Arshdeep Singh

Shaheen Shah Afridi is ready to go for Pakistan. Batsman Shan Masood is expected to play after he was struck on the head at training. Fakhar Zaman is unavailable.

Pakistan: 1. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2. Babar Azam (c), 3. Shan Masood, 4. Mohammad Nawaz, 5. Haider Ali, 6. Iftikhar Ahmed, 7. Asif Ali, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Haris Rauf, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Naseem Shah

If you’re looking to bet on the T20 World Cup, check out IPLWin today for special offers.

IND vs PAK Head-to-Head Stats & Key Players

India:

• KL Rahul has struck four fifties in his last four outings (two vs South Africa, two in the warm-ups). He has scored just 31 runs in three matches against Pakistan, and this will be a big opportunity to get that record right.
• Virat Kohli easily has the most runs in IND-PAK T20Is (406) at an average of 67.67 and strike rate of 119.06. In the Asia Cup, he struck 35 (34) and 60 (44) against Pakistan.
• Suryakumar Yadav has had a year to remember. He has belted 801 runs at an average of 40.05 and unbelievable strike rate of 184.56. Against left-arm seam in all T20s this year, Suryakumar has scored 189 runs at an average of 37.8 and strike rate of 187.13. The corresponding figures against right-arm seam are 510 runs, avg. 39.23, SR 193.91.
• Hardik Pandya produced a great all-round performance against Pakistan in the 2022 Asia Cup (3/25 and 33* off 17 balls). With the long square boundaries at the MCG, expect Hardik to target the Pakistani batsmen with short deliveries.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be tasked with providing early breakthroughs for India. He has taken ten wickets in six T20Is vs Pakistan, including 4/26 earlier this year where he dismissed Babar Azam.
• Yuzvendra Chahal has enjoyed success at the MCG. He took 6/42 in an ODI against Australia in 2019.

Pakistan:

• Mohammad Rizwan has struck nine half-centuries in 18 T20I matches this year, with a total of 821 runs at an average of 54.73 and strike rate of 126.30. Also, he has wonderful numbers against India: 3 inns, 193 runs, avg. 96.50, SR 130.41.
• Babar Azam is key. He recently had a good Tri-Series in New Zealand, with two fifties in five matches (192 runs, avg. 48.00, SR 123.87).
• Mohammad Nawaz is arguably Pakistan’s X-Factor player. He recently smashed 107 runs in the NZ Tri-Series at a strike rate of 159.70. Also, Nawaz hit a memorable 20-ball 42 against India to help seal a 182-run chase in the 2022 Asia Cup.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi will be vital upfront, as he aims to repeat his brilliant performance in this fixture in the 2021 WC. He will sense an opportunity against KL Rahul, who has scored 52 off 46 against left-arm seam in T20 Internationals this year, with two dismissals.
• Haris Rauf will be key at the death, especially considering his experience at the MCG. He is Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker this year (23), and has taken 11 wickets in seven T20s on this ground at an average of 15.73 and economy of 6.92.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 11, India 8, Pakistan 3.
• India may seek to test Babar Azam with spin early. In all T20s in 2022, Babar has been dismissed 12 times by spin at an average of 20.9 and strike rate of 111.1. His balls-per-dismissal is 18.8, compared to 58.2 in 2021 and 75.3 in 2020.
• In all T20s this year, Rohit Sharma has scored 134 runs against left-arm seam at a strike rate of just 100, and has been dismissed four times.

MCG Melbourne Pitch Report and Weather

The weather has been the talking point. There is a chance of a shortened game with some evening showers possible in Melbourne. However, the amount of rain expected has reduced significantly. Details here.

In terms of the MCG pitch itself, it has been the fastest scoring surface in T20s in Australia in the past three years (run rate of 8.30). The chasing team has won 50% of the matches, with finger spinners (7.10) more economical than wristspinners (7.59) and pacers (8.71). Expect the bowlers to hit short of a length and force the batsmen to hit square, where the boundaries are huge.

If you’re looking to bet on the T20 World Cup, check out IPLWin today for special offers.

IND vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today 23 October 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

• Wicket-Keepers: Mohammad Rizwan
• Batsmen: Babar Azam, Suryakumar Yadav
• All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Nawaz
• Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi

T20 World Cup 2022 Match 16: IND vs PAK Match Prediction – Who will win?

If it’s a shortened game, the power of the India batting lineup may prevail. But, runs on the board batting first may prove the deciding factor.

Disclaimer: Links in this article are part of a sponsorship for the 2022 T20 World Cup where CricBlog has received a fee.