Mohammed Rizwan confidently chose to bat first after winning the toss. Pakistan has made one change to their lineup: Imam-ul-Haq replaces Fakhar Zaman, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a hip injury.
Winning the toss is an advantage for Pakistan, especially after their recent defeat to New Zealand. In this must-win match, it’s a confident start for the defending champions. Batting first on this surface should boost their confidence, allowing them to set a challenging total against India, as Mohammed Rizwan mentioned during the toss.
Pakistan needs to start fresh against India. With Babar Azam and Imam opening the batting, this pair must take the initiative in the powerplay and put the Indian bowlers on the back foot. Babar is gradually returning to form, but he needs to focus on his strike rate and play with intent. Imam is back in the side after a long absence; he had a decent run in the domestic competition and will be eager to improve his average of 14.00 against India in this format.
Saud Shakeel and Mohammed Rizwan need to elevate their game in this crucial match. If the openers provide a solid start, these two can build on that momentum, while Salman Ali Agha can contribute valuable runs at the end. Overall, Pakistan boasts a strong middle order compared to the openers.
The bowling attack is led by Shaheen Shah Afridi. If he can secure early wickets with the new ball, his partners Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah will be able to capitalize on that momentum. The pitch is expected to slow down as the innings progresses, and if dew is not a factor in today’s match, spinners Abrar Ahmed and Tayyab Tahir could have an advantage over the Indian middle order.
Pakistan Playing 11
Babar Azam, Imam ul-Haq, Mohammed Rizwan(c&wk), Salman Agha, Saud Shakeel, Khusdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Taayab Tahir
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading...
India remains UnchangedÂ
India has not made any changes to their team lineup, opting to stick with the combination that secured their victory against Bangladesh.Â
The Playing 11 for the Indian team covers all the essentials, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill expected to provide a strong start in the powerplay, particularly with Rohit taking on the role of the aggressor.Â
Virat Kohli, who has been struggling with consistency, is anticipated to bounce back against Pakistan, as he often does in crucial matches. Shreyas Iyer has been performing well at number four, while the swap between Axar Patel and KL Rahul has yet to yield positive results. However, KL Rahul seems to have adapted to batting at number six, where he played an important knock under pressure against Bangladesh in the last match.Â
The Indian bowling unit showcased a solid performance with three spinners and three pacers effectively doing their job. They made a strong start in the first 15 overs against Bangladesh but in the middle overs, they were gradually outplayed. The Indian bowlers worked hard during that phase to take wickets. Although such scenarios can happen in the game, particularly after a good start, India is well-prepared against Pakistan. The team includes Harshit Rana, and Mohammed Shami has a talent for picking up wickets with the new ball. During the middle overs, the spinners will be crucial, as they will need to take wickets to limit Pakistan to a below-par total in Dubai.
India Playing 11
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav
For Your Information
Rohit Sharma and India now have lost their 12th ODI Toss in a row since the 2023 World Cup, which is the most by a team in this format since its inception. Â
