Pakistan vs India: Key player battles to watch out for

MANCHESTER: Sarfaraz XI and Team Kohli will put on a massive battle for their fans in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on Sunday at the Old Trafford ground. 

The match is scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm (PST).

There is unbridled enthusiasm both on and off the field. Like always, it is again going to be a battle between Pakistan's deadly pace bowling assault and India's masterclass power-hitting batting.

Let's take a look over at the most electrifying player battles to watch for, as the most historic opponents lock horns on Sunday, June 16th.

Mohammad Amir (PAK) vs Virat Kohli (IND)

Kohli, the #1 batsman will be looking for an act of revenge against Mohammad Amir. Kohli has played against Amir in four One-day International matches. 

While Kohli stayed careful and survived on Amir's deliveries in most events, he lost his wicket to the lead when it made a difference the most. In the Champions Trophy 2017 final, Amir crushed the pivotal scalp of the Indian captain for five runs. 

Amir, who has taken 5 wickets in the two matches he has played up until now, disturbed Kohli with a reasonable arrangement of his swingers and short deliveries.

Mohammad Amir (PAK) vs Rohit Sharma (IND)

The contest between India opener Rohit Sharma and Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir is unquestionably the most talked rivalry. 

 

The two have met in the past with Rohit scoring only 38 keeps running off 62 deliveries from Amir and the right-hander has been expelled by the left-arm pacer three times in the ODIs.

Wahab Riaz (PAK) vs Virat Kohli (IND)

Wahab Riaz, the lethal Pakistani bowler, will also have the responsibility to stop Kohli from scoring runs on Sunday using his nightmare spells. Wahab has bowled 72 deliveries to Kohli, giving off 89 runs, and a wicket.

Let's see if Wahab Riaz can try something similar to that of his spell from the quarter-final match of Pakistan vs Australia in ICC World Cup 2015 when he delivered a fierce spell with a series of bouncers to Shane Watson, leaving no chance for him to hit high.

Fakhar Zaman (PAK) vs Jasprit Bumrah (IND)

Ranked #1 ODI bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has to take more precautions this time and should try not to bowl a no-ball to Fakhar Zaman otherwise it'd potentially turn out to be a nightmare for Indian batsmen as it did in the final of Champions Trophy 2017 when Zaman changed the game with a crisp 114 to help Pakistan beat their rivals.  

 

Although Fakhar hasn't been able to justify himself in the tournament till now, he is expected to be taken as a dangerous element for the men in blue.

Bumrah has delivered 28 deliveries to Fakhar, giving off 16 runs and no dismissal yet.

Mohammad Hafeez (PAK) vs Yuzvendra Chahal (IND)

Another battle which could serve as a deciding factor for the win of Pakistan-India clash might be between the middle order batsman Muhammad Hafeez and leg-break bowler Yuzvendra Chahal.

Hafeez is the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in World Cup 2019 with 146 runs in 3 innings and is the backbone of Pakistani batting line for over a decade, while Chahal has picked up 6 wickets in 2 matches so far in the event.

Both have not encountered each other in any match but they are the backbone players for their skippers and will be crucial assets for the victory.