World Cup 2019: India vs Pakistan - 3 key encounters crucial for each side’s fortunes in the match

There is perhaps a bigger and more revered rivalry in not just cricket but the entire sporting fraternity which accords a higher stature than India vs Pakistan. The most competitive and feisty rivalry by some distance, this clash between the two fierce Indian rivals always makes the world stand up and take notice.

And when these two sides are squaring off against each other on the grandest stage of it all, the stakes and intensity are going step to be stepped up a notch. Facing off today in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, India and Pakistan are set to regale us in a humdinger of an encounter, one where the tempers will fly and no stone will be left unturned to get the better of the other side.

Ahead of this engrossing and enthralling encounter, we take a look at the key battles which will subsequently shape up the match. From Jasprit Bumrah, Babar Azam to Virat Kohli, we take a look at how these worldclass performers will play a key role for their side.

---

#1 Virat Kohli vs Mohammad Amir

India v Pakistan - ICC Champions Trophy Final

We begin our key battles with two players who are not only quintessential to their team’s performances but arguably the finest players in their facet at the showpiece tournament till now. In Virat Kohli taking on Mohammad Amir, we have on our hands an extremely enticing battle, one which will determine how the match takes course for either side.

At number 3, Kohli is the fulcrum of the Indian side and in such a high octane match, the level of his performance is only going to go up. He loves taking the pressure on himself and emerging as the match winner for his side and the identity this encounter holds is only going to make him hungrier to deliver a momentous knock for his coveted bat.

If anyone can rile up Kohli, it’s going to be Amir. He has undoubtedly been Pakistan’s best bet in the pace department, a bowler who has tried his best despite having no support from the other end. Ranked second in the list of wicket takers, Amir who was a last minute pick by his board has shown just why he’s regarded so highly.

His 5 wicket haul against Australia was one befitting of his superior skill set, reaffirming how treacherous a bowler he is to come up against.

Against Kohli, Amir knows the only area he can target is his helmet or peg away at a fifth-stump line with his over the wicket angle. The Indian captain has just the slightest chink in his artillery, his aberration towards the ball which grows up suddenly at him and is directed towards his legside, or ones that consistently move away from him.

Also see - Highest partnerships by wicket in world cup

Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on World Cup schedule, news, points table, live scores, most runs, world cup most wickets and fantasy tips.

#2 Rohit Sharma vs Wahab Riaz

England v Pakistan - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

He’s been India’s highest scorer at the quadrennial tournament till now with a century and a half-century to his name and with Shikhar Dhawan being ruled out, the onus on Rohit Sharma to hold fort only increases. Under conditions which promise to see the ball move in the air, batting is going to be a tedious task and Rohit needs to ensure he is at his steady best for the side.

In Wahab Riaz, Rohit will be probably up against his toughest test from Pakistan. The pacer has endured a hot and cold tournament, showing glimpses of what he’s capable of but by no means imbedding the much needed consistency to help his side make massive strides up the ranks.

With 520 runs in 15 innings against Pakistan, this is a team Rohit loves coming out and registering the big knocks against. The only way Wahab can perturb him is by targeting his offstump and getting the much needed swing onto the ball he’s capable of generating. Rohit is tentative in the early part of the innings and anything a little outside his offstump channel can induce a false edge from his bat.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah vs Babar Azam

India v Australia - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Jasprit Bumrah headed into the World Cup as the number one ranked ODI bowler in the world and he’s taken no time in hammering down just why he’s so deserving of all the plaudits directed his way. India’s spearhead, the scintillating spearhead has been a real force to reckon with at the tournament, leaving batsmen flummoxed time and time again.

Kohli used him in bits and pieces against Australia and expect the Indian captain to do the same against Pakistan. He’ll be saving Bumrah up for Babar Azam, the only batsman who offers some kind of fortitude in Pakistan’s dwindling batting unit. With the middle-order known to tumble down, Azam is the only piece holding together the top and middle order and India know if they send him back early, they’ll expose a middle-order they can wrap up cheaply.

Be it the inswinging deliveries, outswinging ones, yorkers or slower ones, Bumrah has it all. Expect him to send down the kitchen sink and more at Azam in a deadly show of pace bowling, where he’ll be looking to keep the bowling wicket to wicket and cramp Azam up for room.