Pakistan have never tasted victory over India in the ODI World Cup.
When Babar Azam and his boys take the field at Gujarat's Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, they will have only one purpose. A triumph to finally break the curse and make the head-to-head record 1-7. To do it at the world's biggest cricket stadium could, no doubt, make the win sweeter.
But it is not going to be easy. The Men In Blue look a force to reckon with at home having humbled Australia and Afghanistan in the tournament already. From captain Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, India's big guns are firing and look hungry for more. As the Asian powerhouses are all set for the much-anticipated World Cup faceoff, here are five things for die-hard fans to remember.
1. India vs Pakistan World Cup tie weather forecast: While earlier reports suggested minimal to no chance of rain in the city on Saturday, a report by the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad has predicted overcast conditions with light showers. The day temperature is expected to be between 30-35 degrees Celsius.
2. Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report: The surface is expected to be batting-friendly. But the seamers may get some extra bounce as a fresh track will be dished out for the mouthwatering contest, reports said. It will not be a wrong call for the toss-winning captain to field first as the ball comes onto the bat better under the lights in Ahmedabad.
3. Shaheen Shah Afridi's opening spell: With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in form, Pakistan's hopes of an early breakthrough primarily depend on how well left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi's first spell pans out. Known to pick wickets early in the innings, Afridi will have to be in his element on Saturday. The speedster has not quite delivered yet in the tournament as now could be the right time. Against Sri Lanka, he leaked 66 runs from 9 overs (Eco 7.33) and took one wicket. Although he was more economical against the Netherlands (7-0-37-1), Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf had picked more wickets than him.
4. Kuldeep Yadav vs Babar Azam -- A winner-takes-all battle: Mohammed Rizwan was phenomenal against Sri Lanka and Abdullah Shafique showed his class. There is Saud Shakeel, who can be an 'x-factor' on a given day. But Pakistan's batting depends on its skipper Babar Azam.
The Pak skipper was dismissed for 5 by the Dutch and 10 by the Lankans. In Motera's batting-friendly pitch, Babar Azam going beast mode would be ideal for the visitors.
ALSO READ: Good news for Indian fans, Shubman Gill returns to nets ahead of WC clash with Pakistan
Enter Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist-spinner's leg-break landed Babar in a mess in Manchester in 2019, could be watched on loop as many times as one can. In between, Kuldeep had lost that flight, loop, dip and deception but he has regained those assets and the spinner can spell doom for Babar and his team. The Asia Cup match in Colombo is a case in point. But to nullify Kuldeep, Pakistan need to go past the first spell of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
5. Spin or medium pace - India's great dilemma: The only question that India seek answer is whether to play Ravi Ashwin or Shardul Thakur. The experienced off-spinner and bowling all-rounder will battle it out for the No. 8 slot. If the pitch is a batting paradise, then Shardul is a better choice but if there is a bit of grip available, Ashwin is the more viable option with longer boundaries on each side.
Teams: India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.