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When it comes to cricket then there aren't many games bigger than India vs Pakistan. Cricket enthusiasts keenly wait for this fixture simply because this rivalry has yielded n number of iconic moments which are embedded in the hearts of many.
While Pakistan has enjoyed much more success over their neighbours in overall ODIs but when it comes to World Cup matches, the Men in Blue take the cake hands down.
Team India have got the better of their fierce rivals in all six World Cup meetings between the two and it won't be wrong to say that they will be favourites when these two sides take the centre stage at Manchester's Old Trafford Cricket Stadium in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
While India possess a genuinely world-class unit, Pakistan too has some incredible players. It will be utterly fascinating to see as to which eleven make the combined lineup as these two cricketing giants gear up for their upcoming clash.
Here we list down a combined XI of India and Pakistan.
Openers: Rohit Sharma and Imam-ul-Haq
Starting on top will be the 'Hitman'. Rohit Sharma has been in scintillating form in the World Cup so far. The hard-hitting opener commenced his World Cup journey in England with a ton against South Africa and followed that with an impressive 57 against Australia. Rohit Sharma's position in this combined 11 was never in doubt as he is one of the top performers of the tournament so far.
Indian fans will reckon Shikhar Dhawan's untimely injury as unlucky as the batsman from Delhi seemed to be on for yet another ICC special. In Dhawan's probable absence, Imam-ul-Haq grabs the opening slot alongside Rohit.
Imam-ul-Haq has had his battles with consistency but so far he's shown promising signs which is why he earns a spot in this side. The Pakistani batsman scored a hard-earned half-century against Australia, a match which ended on a bitter note for the Men in Green as they lost the match by 41 runs.
Also see - IND vs PAK head to head stats
Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Mohammad Hafeez, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Virat Kohli takes the number 3 spot thanks to his tremendous numbers. Often considered the greatest of ODI players, Kohli is a name which can be found many a times in the record books. Pakistan do possess some real handy batsmen but it is a spot just too hard to give someone else the nod when you have the ICC number 1 ranked batsman in contention.
Kohli had a decent outing against Australia as he scored 82 in what was a captain’s knock. The Indian Skipper is bidding to become only the third man in history to lead India to the World Cup glory and if he continues his sensational form then that dream might well come true.
Mohammed Hafeez provides a sense of stability to the Pakistan unit in the middle as his experience is something which helps him claim his place in this combined 11.
Hafeez is enjoying a decent World Cup as he has been able to get some runs as well as crucial wickets which makes him one of the most important members of the Pakistan team. His all-around display is a delight to watch and the veteran is truly utilising his experience to perfection, notably seen in the matchwinning performance against England.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a name which every ardent cricket follower is well aware of. Arguably the greatest finisher the world has ever seen, Dhoni has the ability to frighten any opposition. Mahi has won it all and his intelligence on hte field has been second to none. Indian cricket supporters adore their former skipper and it is no secret that on his day, there aren't many players better than MS Dhoni.
Dhoni batted at a quick rate against Australia as he scored 27 off just 14 bowls. While his batting has been good, his wicket-keeping skills have been utterly brilliant. With a lot of matches to come, Indian fans will be hope that their former captain continues with his excellent work behind the stumps.
Lower Order: Hardik Pandya and Wahab Riaz
Hardik Pandya has carried his form from the IPL 2019 to ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The Indian allrounder played a quickfire knock against Australia and showed the world his importance to this dynamic Indian unit. Pandya has been a valuable unit of the Indian side for a long time as his skills all around have helped the Men in Blue prosper.
Pandya is an effective bowler as well which provides this team with an extra bowling option.
Wahab Riaz made a return to the Pakistan side this summer and his inclusion has added a lot of flair to the otherwise lacklustre Pakistani bowling lineup. The tall seamer had a decent outing against England as Pakistan shocked the world by defeating the favourites at home to give their fans some hope.
Wahab displayed his batting prowess against Australia as he scored 45 runs and looked comfortable at the crease. He is a fierce competitior in all departments of the game.
Bowlers: Mohammad Amir, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal
One of the most ferocious in-form fast bowlers around, Mohammad Amir is a menace who can wreak havoc on his day. While Amir has often been criticised for his inconsistency, but the left-arm pacer’s potential has never been questioned. The left-arm pacer was at his brutal best against Australia as he claimed his first 5-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
The last time Amir squared up against Indian batsmen was back in 2017 when Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals in the ICC Champions Trophy final. He played a key role in Pakistan’s historic victory as he sent the top-order trio of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli back to the pavilion in his first spell itself.
Jasprit Bumrah is the number 1 ranked ODI bowler in ICC's list and that alone speaks for his genius. Bumrah has made a name for himself as one of the most effective bowlers around and his ability to bowl devastating yorkers is something which frightens batsmen all around.
Bumrah has often been economical at the business end which is why Virat Kohli relies on the bowler in the death overs. Bumrah's deserves a place on this list owing to his past record and current form.
India's swing sensation Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a terrific outing against Australia. His swing bowling seemed to trouble Australian batsmen as he took 3 wickets to help his side successfully defend their total against the current World Champions.
Bhuvneshwar's bowing style make him a valuable asset to the Indin side and it is fair to say the English conditions suit him the most amongst all the bowlers on either side.
From Harbhajan Singh to Anil Kumble, India has produced some of the finest spinners of all-time. While the veterans have long gone, there is a leggie on the block who has been impressing cricket fans with his skills with the ball and that man is Yuzvendra Chahal.
The Indian spinner was instrumental in India's victory over South Africa as he took 4 wickets to help the men in blue restrict their opponents for a paltry score of 227.
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