5 Indian players before Shubman Gill who had their World Cup debut against Pakistan ft. Suryakumar Yadav

The big-ticket India-Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash is underway in front of a packed house at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14. While Pakistan continued with the same playing XI, the Men in Blue welcomed in-form batter Shubman Gill back into the side in place of Ishan Kishan.

For all his heroics in white-ball cricket this year, this will be Gill's first World Cup game, and it doesn't come much bigger than a clash against India's arch-rivals, Pakistan.

The experience of debuting in the World Cup against Pakistan could be seen as the ultimate opportunity to stamp your authority on the world stage.

Gill isn't the first Indian player to make his World Cup debut against Pakistan. Several others have had the honour of playing their first match against the chief rivals.

Here, we look at five other Indian players who debuted in the World Cup against Pakistan.

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#1. Suryakumar Yadav - 2021 T20 World Cup

Surya has come a long way in the shortest format since his World Cup debut in 2021.

The world's top-ranked T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav had his first taste of World Cup cricket against Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Batting at No.4, Surya was called into action in the third over and straightaway smashed a boundary and maximum. However, his stay was cut short by Hasan Ali, as he returned to the pavilion after scoring just 11 off eight deliveries.

India finished their innings with a mediocre 151/7 in 20 overs as Pakistan chased the total with no trouble and registered a massive 10-wicket win.

'SKY' played four games in the 2021 T20 World Cup without much impact. However, he made amends in the following edition last year, smashing three half-centuries in six games.

Surya is part of the Indian squad for the ongoing World Cup and could play later in the tournament.

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#2. Axar Patel - 2022 T20 World Cup

Axar Patel had a forgettable World Cup debut with bat and ball.

The India-Pakistan clash of the 2022 T20 World Cup is fondly remembered for Virat Kohli's incredible 82* off 53 balls in India's last-ball victory. The match was also left-arm spinner Axar Patel's World Cup debut.

While the 29-year-old had a forgettable outing with the ball, finishing with 0/21 in his solitary over, Axar was promoted up the order during India's run chase. However, the all-rounder could not redeem himself as he was run out for only two off three deliveries to leave India reeling at 31/4 in the seventh over.

Despite the disappointing start, Axar made amends in India's next outing against the Netherlands, picking up 2/18 in his four overs.

Axar was unlucky to miss out on his first ODI World Cup selection, with a quadriceps injury in the Asia Cup ruling him out of the ongoing tournament.

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#3. Shikhar Dhawan - 2014 T20 World Cup

Dhawan helped India beat Pakistan to open the 2014 T20 World Cup.

One of India's best performers in ICC events, Shikhar Dhawan played his first World Cup game during the T20 edition in Bangladesh in 2014.

Coming off his heroics in India's 2013 Champions Trophy triumph, the southpaw was immune to pressure, and it showed against Pakistan in Team India's 2014 T20 World Cup opener.

Chasing a mere 131 for victory, Dhawan scored a brisk 30 off 28 deliveries to shut any hopes of a Pakistan victory. The Men in Blue won by seven wickets in the 19th over to kickstart a journey that ended with a loss in the final against Sri Lanka.

Surprisingly, the 30 on debut remains Dhawan's highest score in T20 World Cups, with a dismal average of 10.57 in seven innings. However, the opening batter has prospered in 50-over World Cups, averaging 53.70 in ten games with three centuries and a half-century.

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#4. Vijay Shankar - 2019 ODI World Cup

Shankar was a controversial selection to the Indian 2019 World Cup squad.

Vijay Shankar's inclusion in the Indian squad for the 2019 World Cup raised several eyebrows, with many feeling Ambati Rayudu should have been included in his place.

Yet, not only did Shankar travel to England for his maiden and only World Cup, but he also debuted against arch-rivals Pakistan at Manchester.

His selection in the playing XI stemmed from Shikhar Dhawan suffering an injury, forcing KL Rahul to open the batting. However, the 32-year-old grabbed his opportunity by scoring an unbeaten 15 to finish the Indian batting innings and picking up the vital wickets of Imam-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed with the ball.

The all-rounder finished with figures of 2/22 as India steamrolled Pakistan by 89 runs.

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#5. Umesh Yadav - 2015 World Cup

Umesh Yadav had a memorable 2015 World Cup in Australia.

Pacer Umesh Yadav also made his World Cup against Pakistan - in the ODI format in 2015. On a sunny day at the Adelaide Oval, the Men in Blue batted first and posted a mammoth 300/7 on the back of a magnificent century by Virat Kohli.

In reply, Pakistan were in a position of strength at 102/2 when Umesh struck twice in the 23rd over. He removed the well-set opening batter Ahmed Shehzad for 47 and dismissed middle-order batter Sohaib Maqsood two balls later, leaving Pakistan in disarray.

India won by 76 runs to record their sixth consecutive ODI World Cup victory against Pakistan. Umesh had a sparkling tournament in his lone World Cup, finishing with 19 wickets in eight games at an average of 17.83 and two four-wicket hauls.