SUMMERY :
New Delhi: The much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 clash between India and Pakistan has been delayed due to rain, adding suspense to what is considered the most exciting match of the tournament’s group stage. This historic rivalry, deeply embedded in the fabric of cricket, sees another chapter unfold today.
India has dominated Pakistan in World Cup history, both in T20 and 50-over formats. However, this dominance has been challenged recently. Pakistan achieved their first World Cup victory over India with a stunning 10-wicket win in the 2021 T20 World Cup. India then made a comeback by winning a thrilling match at the MCG in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Today’s match holds additional intrigue as India’s head coach Rahul Dravid faces a familiar counterpart in Pakistan’s coach Gary Kirsten, who famously led India to World Cup glory in 2011. Kirsten’s team, however, suffered a surprising defeat to the USA in their opening match. In contrast, India looked strong in their eight-wicket win against Ireland.
Eyes will be on Virat Kohli as he opens the batting with captain Rohit Sharma. Kohli, who didn’t play in the warm-up against Bangladesh and was out cheaply against Ireland, will face Pakistan’s formidable bowlers, including Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir. Rohit Sharma is confident in Kohli’s preparation and experience. “[Virat] didn’t play the Bangladesh [warm-up] game but he’s had enough training under his belt before this game…the kind of experience that he has, playing all over the world, playing in big tournaments, nothing can beat that,” Rohit said.
On the other side, Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s performance will be closely watched, especially against India’s ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Babar’s form has been under scrutiny, and his ability to handle Bumrah in the powerplay could be crucial. Bumrah, who shone in the IPL despite his team’s struggles, was instrumental in India’s win over Ireland with remarkable figures of 2/6 in three overs.
Key Points from the IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2024:
- The toss was delayed by half an hour due to rain.
- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first.
- India leads the head-to-head in T20 World Cup matches against Pakistan, with just one loss.
- India defeated Ireland by eight wickets in their opening match.
- Pakistan suffered a shock defeat to co-hosts USA in their first game.
- A win today could bring India closer to qualifying for the Super 8s.
As fans eagerly await the start of this high-stakes match, the rivalry between India and Pakistan continues to capture the imagination of cricket enthusiasts worldwide.