After all the hype surrounding Pakistan’s arrival into Indian soil, it is the hosts who are feeling the pressure with the prospect of a must-win encounter. After a dreadful performance against New Zealand at Nagpur, India’s net run-rate took a nosedive and they cannot afford another slip-up.
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While the batsmen wilted under the humongous expectations and collapsed in a heap, the efforts of their spinners does not make a pretty retrospective reading. However, skipper MS Dhoni remained confident of his team’s turnaround alluding to previous tournaments.
On the other hand, Shahid Afridi found form at the right time as Pakistan blitzed their way past Bangladesh. Usually derided for their inconsistency, the top-order laid a platform upon which the rest of the team never looked back.
When the batting clicks, the attractive Pakistani bowling attack is enhanced considerably. Taking into account the unpredictability of the ‘Men in Green’, nothing can be ruled out as the fabled World Cup streak is on the line.
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India vs Pakistan 2016 LIVE Streaming Details
TV Channel: Star Sports 1, HD1 (English) and 3, HD3 (Hindi)
Online Stream: www.starsports.com, Hotstar App
Date: 19 March 2016, Saturday
Today’s Match Time: 19:30 IST, 14:00 GMT
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Team News
India
Since Dhoni does not like to make sweeping changes whatever the situation, the Indians could even go in unchanged. However, Hardik Pandya’s spot in the eleven is under some scrutiny. With a flat batting pitch expected, perhaps either Mohammed Shami or Harbhajan Singh could be slotted in to bolster the bowling department.
Pakistan
The team management seems to have found a feasible combination after an abject show in the Asia Cup which was marred by left-field selections. With Ahmed Shehzad back at the top of the order, the batting lineup looks comparatively assured.
Teams (Predicted XI)
Indian Squad
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (C) (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra
Pakistan Squad
Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (WK), Shahid Afridi (C), Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan
Recent Form
India: L-W-W-W-W
Pakistan: W-W-L-W-L
Key Stats
- India have had the better of Pakistan in T20Is with a win-loss ratio of 5.
- Pakistan have never beaten India in the World T20.
- Afridi tops the bowling charts in T20Is with 95 scalps to his name.
- Umar Akmal and Hafeez have an almost identical T20I record with only 2 runs separating each other from 76 matches.
- Virat Kohli needs only one half-century to overtake Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum’s tally of T20I fifties.
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