Champions Trophy: 5 things to look out for when India meet Pakistan

It is the mother of all battles. And it’s here.

The cricketing world awaits a spectacle of massive proportions as we move through the group stages of the Champions Trophy towards June 15 when India take on Pakistan at Birmingham. The tense political ties between the two nations added with the inability of Pakistan to host matches at home, and perhaps to an extent the absence of Pakistan players at the Indian Premier League means that fans are starved of this contest and the multitudes of contests within. Yet, once the prospect is at hand, one can feel the energy around it. If the initial games of India are Pakistan are anything to go by, we will have tremendous support for both teams and an insane amount of noise. The tickets for the match were sold in three hours and that’s enough said about the wait, the expectation and the craze.

Moreover, the two teams look in excellent shape coming into the tournament, bulked up on their traditional strengths. Pakistan have a pace battery that can send a shiver through any batsman’s spine and India have batting line-up to match it. The battle will evoke memories of the Sachin-Wasim, Sehwag-Shoaib and many more such rivalries of the great past shared by the two teams. Add to that the new threat posed by Saeed Ajmal and the efficiency of Indian batsmen against spin, it all makes way for a thrilling contest. Fans will also remember India’s defeat at home to this very side suffered in January this year. This will be a moment for India to get a share of their revenge. Here are five things among many to look out for in the biggest clash of the tournament.

1. The Heat, the Hostility

We would like to believe that the India-Pakistan clashes are not do-or-die affairs any more. We would like to believe that they don’t mean much outside the realm of sport. However, the fact is that these clashes remain slightly seasoned with that surplus energy that floats on the surface, blowing up into a rush of heat, a stare, some choice words that is all well within the spirit of the game. These are the moments that stand out in India-Pakistan matches for they raise the intensity of the game and bring out the most courageous performances.

2. The Heroes

These clashes also have the ability to throw a player into stardom. No one will ever forget the Javed Miandad six off the last ball nor will they forget when Venkatesh Prasad sent Aamir Sohail’s stumps rolling in the World Cup of 1996. Indian fans still go gaga over the twin sixes belted by Sachin and Sehwag to the bowling of Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis respectively. Given the fact that the two sides are full of players who will be eager to stamp their names on the history of this rivalry, we will be awaiting some memorable moments.

3. The Battles Within

India-Pakistan clashes are always made up of smaller battles fought within the game. It will be interesting to see how these battles form this time around with a number of new faces present in both teams. Rohit Sharma, who is a willing hooker and puller of the cricket ball will face Md. Irfan, the 7ft 1 inch giant with a penchant for delivering chin music. On the other hand, Virat Kohli who is never shy of a battle, will have to counter the left handed swing bowling of Junaid Khan. MS Dhoni will take on the spin wizard that is Saeed Ajmal and these plethora of battles within will ensure that the spectator is rooted to his seat through the course of the game.

4. Indian Batting vs Pakistan Bowling

As mentioned before, this has been the traditional battle between the two teams. The department that outperforms the other will win the clash. The fact that this will be the final group game and Pakistan have lost their first match against the West Indies, a lot will be at stake. Pakistan bowlers will come hard at the Indian batsmen with pace and the short length delivery whereas the Indian batsmen are unlikely to take it all with reserved calmness. Shots will fly and the first ten-fifteen overs of this contest promise to be edge-of-the seat action.

5. The Crowd

There is always a particular buzz about the stadium when India face Pakistan and it will be all the more special in England where knowledgeable crowds are more inclined to polite applause than freakish sloganeering. There will be the known faces, the tricoloured Tendulkar fan and the bearded Chacha. There will be visuals of fans praying in their own different ways in tense situations. But all around the park, there will be an atmosphere of camaraderie and celebration for the game that brings them together.