World Cup 2019: Three things India need to do to win against Pakistan

A rivalry more colossal than any other, India vs Pakistan on the cricketing field is more than just a cricket match. To the ardent cricket lovers of the two countries, this an encounter which can’t be lost at any costs, being held in equal reverence to the final of the tournament.

Having faced off against each other six times till date at the prestigious tournament, India have completely dominated this thrilling clash. With a 100% winning record, India have gotten the better of Pakistan in all the previous matches the two countries have played till date on the big stage.

And come Sunday, the effervescent Indian side will be looking to keep their exemplary record against Pakistan intact. On current form and going by the squads of the two teams, India are firm favourites to be in complete control and emerge from this fixture on the greener side of the rub.

We take a look at the three things India need to get right and the periods which they need to win to step out of this face off with the two points.

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#1 Not lose Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli in the opening 10 overs

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India’s immense success over the course of the past year has been determined by how the side has batted in their opening 10 overs. They’ve opted for a gameplan which has paid massive dividends to them, seeing off the new ball cautiously before eventually upping the ante after the first powerplay.

With Shikhar Dhawan out though, India’s strategy is massively hampered. The left hand-right hand combination of Dhawan and Rohit Sharma has been broken and in KL Rahul and Rohit we have an opening partnership which has never featured for the Indian setup till date.

Under potentially thick cloud cover, the opening 10 overs become all the more crucial for India. Mohammad Amir will come hot off the blocks, particularly eyeing Rahul whose adversaries against the moving new ball are well documented. He’s known to throw his wicket away against anything that deviates, failing to show the acumen needed to watch out the faster bowlers when he’s been elevated up the order.

With Rahul’s performance an uncertainty, India need to ensure that they don’t lose more than one wicket in the fifth 10 overs. The wicket of either Rohit or Virat Kohli will leave them crumbling, something the side might find difficult to comeback from.

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#2 Play three fast bowlers

Mohammed Shami's addition can prove the key to beating Pakistan

The clamor for India going with three pacers under these wet conditions has increased and speaking on Saturday in the build-up to the match, Indian captain Virat Kohli spoke on how the side was looking at the proposition as well. These are conditions conducive for fast bowling and with Pakistan’s plight against the fast bowlers coming to the fore this World Cup, India need to bring in Mohammed Shami into the unit.

What the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar offers the Indian side is one of the most versatile pace attacks in the world, a pick of bowlers who have drilled into them the know-how of how to extract the most from any wicket.

They, in particular, will love plying their goods in the typical English setting, getting the ball to ominously deviate away and into the batsman and with the way these three get movement both in the air and after the ball pitches onto the surface, Pakistan’s batting unit could be rendered obsolete by this alluring pace attack.

#3 Drop Kuldeep Yadav for Ravindra Jadeja

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The one clear cut fact which has emerged after India’s two encounters against South Africa and Australia, it is that Kuldeep Yadav is still well short on confidence. Although he hasn’t been berated around by batsmen, his inability to pick up wickets has left the entre brunt of the responsibility on Yuzvendra Chahal.

With Chahal bowling so articulately, Ravindra Jadeja is the perfect partner to his brand of spin. Over the IPL and in England last year, Jadeja showcased the massive work he’s done on his spin, no longer a slower bowler whose main weapon is the faster delivery. He now gets the ball to turn, getting the ball to skid off the surface to make it a difficult proposition to get under his deliveries.

And with Shikhar Dhawan out as well, India are left without a left hander in their batting order, something Jadeja offers. He can hold it out with the lower middle-order and be more than able batsman, scoring runs in the death overs which will be worth their weight on this track.