World Cup 2019: Match 22, India vs Pakistan -  Preview, Weather Report, Pitch Report, Match Details, Head to Head Stats, and Playing XI

It's the biggest of all rivalries as India take on Pakistan in an overcast Old Trafford on Sunday, 16th June for match 22 of World Cup 2019. Unbeaten India are placed 4th in the points table with 2 wins and one NR from 3 games while Pakistan are placed 8th with 1 win and one NR from 4 games.

Match Details

Date: 16th June (Sunday)

Time: 2:30 PM (Pakistan), 3:00 PM (IST) and 10:30 AM (local time)

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

Weather Report

It's expected to be cold at Old Trafford with an average temperature of 13 degree celsius expected during the course of the match. Rain is also expected during the afternoon to play spoilsport to this riveting contest as hopes of a full 100-over contests remain pretty slim.

Pitch Report

The ball is certainly expected to turn and both teams should field their spinners for this clash. Also, the playing surface is usually pretty dry and crusty making the ball ample for reverse swing during the later stages of the innings.

The new ball doesn't swing too much making this a good batting surface but the overcast conditions expected might turn the fixture to the favor of the bowler.

Head-To-Head Stats

Overall: Pakistan lead 73-54 in 127 completed ODIs against India.

In World Cup: India, meanwhile have never lost to Pakistan in the World Cup and have a huge 6-0 lead over their rivals.

In England: Both these sides are neck to neck in games played in England with India having a slender lead of 3-2, the last one being the Champions Trophy 2017 Final which Pakistan won.

At Old Trafford: India won the only game both these sides played at Old Trafford 20 years ago in the 1999 World Cup.

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India

India will look to upstage their rivals for a record 7th time.

Batting

Key Batsmen: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli

India need their makeshift top order to fire against Pakistan as a long opening partnership has been the key to success against their rivals. KL Rahul must look to grab the opportunity to open the innings in place of the injured Shikhar Dhawan while Rohit will hope to survive the opening spell from Mohammad Amir.

Virat Kohli will be itching to get some action after a wash-out against New Zealand and will be the key while Vijay Shankar, who's expected to slot in at No. 4 has a lot to play for.

Bowling

Key Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The Indian bowlers will be assisted by the conditions at Old Trafford which promises a fair contest between bat and ball if the rain gods relent. Jasprit Bumrah will be the trump card, as always with his jagged, angled deliveries which often move off the seam causing a lot of trouble to the opening batsmen.

Bhuvneshwar will look to swing the ball early and keep things tight while the spin twins will look to spin a web around the oppositions after the power play using all the turn available on the wicket.

Predicted Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (C), Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (WK), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah.

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Pakistan

Pakistan will turn to Mohammad Amir to give the side a stunning start with the ball.

Batting

Key Batsmen: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez

The Pakistan openers haven't put up too many imposing stands this tournament and will look to turn it around against the Indian bowlers.

Fakhar Zaman, the hero of the Champions Trophy finals hasn't been among the runs and will be keen to do so. Meanwhile, Babar Azam, the spine of their batting lineup will have to play an anchoring role and play a big innings while the experience of players like Hafeez and Shoaib Malik will be important too.

Bowling

Key Bowlers: Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan and Wahab Riaz

Mohammad Amir will have to come out with another standout performance to stop the Indian batsmen to add on to his tremendous tournament till now. The duo of Hassan Ali and Wahab Riaz should play able foil while spinner Shadab Khan, who's expected to come back into the side will provide a good spinning option to turn to in the middle overs.

Predicted Playing XI

Fakhar Zaman, Imam Ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C and WK), Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir.

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