Last Updated on 4 years ago by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2022: 4 key battles to watch for | 4 key player battles that can decide the IND vs PAK game

Often regarded as the Mother of all Cricket matches, India and Pakistan will resume their on-field battle when both teams kick off their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23.

The match between the two Asian Giants has always been the talk of the town, and the occasion of the World Cup adds a cherry on top. The players from both sides are gearing up to perform in the much-anticipated clash of the year and will leave no stone unturned in the match.

In the last game these teams met in a World Cup game, Pakistan inflicted a humiliating 10-wicket defeat on India. The Men in Green will be eyeing yet another win over India while the Men in Blue will be desperate to avenge their loss and start their campaign on a winning note.

With so much at stake for both teams, the upcoming clash between the two neighbouring countries promises to be a thrilling affair. So before the big-ticket match gets underway, we take a look at four player battles that could decide the fate of the India-Pakistan clash.

IND vs PAK: 4 player battles that can decide the match

Hardik Pandya vs Haris Rauf

The battle between Pandya and Rauf has the potential to influence the outcome of the game. Both players have been in terrific form this year, and Rauf will have the job to keep Pandya quiet.

Pandya is a highly versatile batter with a wide array of shots up his sleeve. Rauf generally operates in the middle and death overs, and that’s where he is likely to face Pandya. In the first match between the two nations played this year, it was Pandya who finished the match in the last over and this time he may well face the challenge of Rauf in the middle and slog overs.

Mohammad Rizwan vs Arshdeep Singh

The left-arm Arshdeep Singh is an ideal customer to thwart the advancements of an in-form Rizwan.

While Rizwan will have the responsibility to give his team a solid start, the onus will be on Arshdeep to give India early breakthroughs. Despite being a T20 stalwart, Rizwan has struggled to accumulate runs on the offside and down the ground in the V-region. Arshdeep can exploit this weakness to his advantage with the new ball, because if Rizwan survives the powerplay overs, it will be difficult to stop him.

And if Arshdeep manages to dismiss Rizwan cheaply, team India will have the upper hand in the contest.

Suryakumar Yadav vs Shadab Khan

There is a theory that suggests T20 results are often decided by how teams handle the middle overs. An excellent batter of spin, Suryakumar can quickly build up pressure on any bowler. Against Suryakumar, Pakistan’s trump card could be Shadab Khan, who has troubled the best of batters in his career.

As per Cricmetric, Shadab has bowled 14 deliveries to Suryakumar, conceding 18 runs. He hasn’t yet dismissed him. Suryakumar looks to dominate the spinners from the word go and that’s where Shadab could fancy his chance of getting him out. MCG’s big boundaries could favour Pakistan’s ace spinner and can tame the beast in Suryakumar Yadav. This will be one of the most intriguing battles to watch out for in the high-octane clash.

Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Shah Afridi

The hero of Pakistan’s most famous win over India in World Cup history, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has been declared fit for the team’s opening game against India after recovering from a knee injury. Shaheen decimated India’s top-order last year by bagging wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. He will be aiming to cause the same amount of damage this time too.

Rohit has been one of the most prolific batters for his team in recent history but has struggled against the left-arm angle in particular. The right-handed batter has faced Shaheen only once in his career and it wasn’t a memorable first for Rohit as he was dismissed by Pakistan’s pace spearhead for a golden duck. This time Rohit will look to turn the tables and give his team a solid start, while Shaheen on the other hand will look to make it two in two.