On Sunday, all statistics and records will go out the window. It will be more about which players perform best as a unit under pressure but before the big eleven, let us see which team has the better players.
1) Rohit Sharma vs Nasir Jamshed
The competition for the opening slot is as good as a walk over. All the talk before the World Cup around India’s batting is about Virat Kohli but at almost 28 this World Cup comes at the prime of his career for Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma has an average close to 39 but he is one of those explosive talents where the stats are misleading. On his day, Rohit Sharma is up there with the most devastating batsmen in the history of the game. Sri Lanka learnt that the hard way last year when Rohit Sharma smashed them for 264 runs in an ODI: a knock that included 33 fours and 9 sixes. Pakistan's entire team often struggles to score 264 runs in an ODI. He is also the only batsman in the history of the game to score two ODI double centuries. With those records it is baffling that India might just go with Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan as their opening pair.
Nasir Jamshed, a last minute inclusion into the Pakistan squad, has no chance against him. Jamshed has been woefully out of form recently and looked fidgety on the crease against England in the warm up. Like most left handed Pakistani batsmen, Jamshed is also highly susceptible outside his off stump. He is likely to struggle against the bounce generated by the pitches in Australia and New Zealand. Put your money on him getting caught up in the slips in the first ten overs more often than not.
Winner: Rohit Sharma
2) Shikhar Dhawan vs Ahmad Shahzad
When it comes to cricket, I am definitely old-school. Despite Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail being my favourite Pakistani opening batting partnership, I am a huge fan of selecting a right-handed and a left-handed opening batsman. For India, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan would form a formidable opening pair but Ahmad Shahzad has grown into a formidable batsman. Shahzad’s average is a mere 35 compared to Dhawan’s 43 but despite being six years his junior Shahzad has played more ODIs than him.
With Afridi and Misbah retiring from ODIs after the World Cup, Shahzad is one of the favourites to become the next captain of the Pakistan cricket team. He may not have the mental maturity required for now but he definitely has the self-belief required for a game of this magnitude. Shahzad does not doubt himself one bit when he walks out to bat and his recent performances have proven many of his doubters wrong. I may be a little biased towards my name sake but I will have to go with our own maverick batsman.
Winner: Ahmad Shahzad
3) Virat Kohli vs Younis Khan
If I was to make a World XI, it is likely that I would put Virat Kohli in the all-important one down spot in the batting order. Virat is the natural successor to Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian batting outfit. Whatever your allegiances, it is a pleasure to watch Virat Kohli bat. His abrasive attitude only adds to the entertainment value. Kohli already has 21 centuries and over 6,000 runs at age 26. If he plays at the top of his game for the next ten years, it is likely that he may smash all the ODI records. Sachin scored a century for every 9.2 innings in his career whereas Virat Kohli has scored a century at a staggering rate of one per every 6.8 innings.
As great a servant as Younis Khan has been for cricket in Pakistan, this world cup comes in the twilight of his career. At 37, we can still rely on Younis Khan to hold the fort steady at one end or keep the strike rate ticking over but his days as a match winner are over. The humble man from Mardan would probably admit defeat himself against the ferocious talent of Virat Kohli.
Winner: Virat Kohli
4) Ajinkya Rahane vs Umar Akmal
The first of the really tough ones, with Rohit Sharma up top Rahane is likely to occupy the middle order. Both the players have all the talent in the world but do not always apply themselves completely. Both are prone to the odd shot and lack the mental fortitude to turn them into the absolute best. On their day, both the players can be true match winners.
This World Cup is perfectly poised for Umar Akmal to really announce himself to the world like Inzamam did during the 1992 world cup. It seems like Misbah is backing Umar Akmal as Imran backed Inzamam. For a confidence player like Akmal, they need to be feel loved for them to perform to the best of their abilities. For those reasons, my personal bias and Rahane’s tendency to be a little unsure of himself, I am going to back Umar Akmal for the number 4 spot.
Winner: Umar Akmal
5) Suresh Raina vs Misbah ul Haq
Suresh Raina has been in and out of the Indian cricket team. The more precarious talent Yuvraj Singh was often preferred to the more tenacious Suresh Raina. Raina does not often steal the headlights but like Misbah in the Pakistan cricket team, he is indispensable to the Indian cricket team. In a team of match winners, he is the one who does the simple things right. Misbah and Raina play the equivalent of the ‘Makelele’ role in football. Like a defensive midfielder screens the defence, they protect the lower order and like a defensive midfielder allows the flair players to shine, Raina and Misbah allow players like Rahane, Kohli, Afridi and Akmal to play their natural game.
One of the most astounding statistics in ODIs is that Misbah-ul-Haq has never scored a century. It is even more astounding that Misbah has an average of 42 despite not scoring a ton ever. It speaks to his consistency and reliability. If there is a batting collapse, I would trust Misbah ul Haq to steady the ship more than Suresh Raina. For the role they are selected to play in the team, I have to go with the player that fulfills that role better.
Winner: Misbah-ul-Haq
6) MS Dhoni vs Sarfaraz Ahmad
Sarfaraz Ahmad has proven to be a more reliable option behind the stumps than Kamran Akmal for Pakistan. Some of his knocks lower down the order have reminded Pakistani cricket fans of glory days of Moin Khan sweeping Glenn Mcgrath consistently for boundaries and sixes during the 1999 world cup. However, with just 36 ODIs under his belt, he is still inexperienced especially compared to the World Cup winning captain of India.
India would have still been a fantastic team without Dhoni in the past decade but guided by the calming influence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India managed to take all the talent in their team and win the last World Cup. Not only is Dhoni completely reliable as a wicket-keeper, he can walk into any team in the world solely based on his batting prowess. The qualities he brings to the team as a captain as an added bonus.
Winner: MS Dhoni
7) Ravindra Jadeja vs Shahid Afridi
Who will be the all-rounder in the team? Dhoni trusts and backs Jadeja. Jadeja is certainly proficient with the ball and the bat. He can be trusted to a job with either but I must bow to the talent that is Shahid Afridi. We all know how explosive Afridi can be with the bat but the real value he brings to the team consistently is with the ball. Afridi has grown into a spinner of some merit; his constant variety is a menace to any batsman in the world. This is likely to be his world cup and I fully expect Boom Boom to go out with a bang. A team with the talent of an India-Pakistan combined eleven can easily afford to carry the luxury of having Afridi in the batting line up. Cometh the hour, Cometh the man, Afridi is a big match player and there is no bigger stage in world cricket than an India Pakistan match in a World Cup.
Winner: Shahid Afridi
8) Ravichandran Ashwin vs Yasir Shah
All the talk in the World Cup is surrounding the seaming and bouncy wickets of Australia and New Zealand. The new regulations requiring two new balls from each end were enforced to balance the battle between the bat and the ball. However, I feel the spinners will play a huge role Down Under in this tournament.
The selection between Ashwin and Shah comes down to a choice of personal spinner. Ashwin is more experienced than Yasir Shah but as Shah showed in the warm up match against England there is a hint of Shane Warne about the young Pakistani leg-spinner. If the Pakistan-India game was in Sydney, I would be inclined to pick Shah but the game is in Adelaide. The modern cricket game is heavily skewed in favour of the batsmen and Ashwin’s ability to not go for runs gives him the edge. With Afridi already in the side as a leg spinner, Ashwin is likely to bring more variety to the team too.
Winner: Ravichandran Ashwin
9) Umesh Yadav vs Wahab Riaz
There is one thing separating the two seam bowlers: Pace. Wahab Riaz can be erratic but he has a couple of yards of pace on Umesh Yadav. As a Pakistani cricket lover, I would always be more inclined towards pace over discipline. The innovative shots and fielding regulations means even balls pitched on a good line and length can go for runs. The bowlers that will make the most difference this World Cup are bowlers that can take wickets. The last time the two sides met in a World Cup match, Wahab Riaz picked a few priceless scalps and I am backing him to do the same tomorrow. Riaz’s slingy action can give him success the same way that Johnson and Starc have been successful for Australia on the Australian pitches.
Winner: Wahab Riaz
10) Bhuveneshwar Kumar vs Ehsan Adil
Bhuveneshwar Kumar was touted as India’s answer to a genuine fast bowler that could swing the ball both ways. For some reason fast bowlers in India always tend to lose a yard of pace after joining the senior cricket set up. Kumar has shown that he can trouble the Pakistani top order in the past and that experience would put him in good stead for the match tomorrow. Ehsan Adil is inexperienced and he has shown little to merit an inclusion into the Pakistani squad let alone a India-Pakistan combined XI. I believe Kumar would be licking himself at the prospect of going after the Pakistani top order with a new ball on the Adelaide pitch whereas Adil does not seem confident in his own abilities, and neither am I.
Winner: Bhuveneshwar Kumar
11) Mohammad Shami vs Mohammad Irfan
The last spot is the first time a Pakistani player seems the clear favourite pick. Mohammad Irfan has shown that he can cause trouble to any batsman in the world. Despite Wasim Akram singing praises of Mohammad Shami and Shami performing admirably in the Indian domestic setup, he is no match for Mohammad Irfan. Irfan is up there with the best left handed fast bowlers of the world. Not only can he get you wickets but he is extremely economical. If Pakistan is to win the match on Sunday, Mohammad Irfan has to perform. Irfan vs India’s top order will make for a fascinating contest.
Winner: Mohammad Irfan
Captain: MS Dhoni vs Misbah ul Haq
Dhoni and Misbah ul Haq would be remembered for two of the most successful captains for their own teams but in the shorter version of the game, it is Dhoni that has had more success than Misbah. Misbah tends to be more defensive whereas Dhoni is not afraid to take risks. For Dhoni’s pedigree of proving that he can lead the team to glory on the biggest stage of them all, I have to pick Dhoni for the captain’s armband.
Captain: MS Dhoni
Total: India 6, Pakistan 6
These are not the best Indian and Pakistani squads that have ever entered the World Cup but there is genuine unpredictability about both teams that is extremely exciting for the viewer. The game on Sunday can genuinely not be predicted with fans of both teams preferring to underplay their team’s chances in the game for once.
All in all it will make for an exciting contest and as far as the team is concerned, the analysis shows that is pretty neck and neck.
India-Pakistan Combined XI.
Rohit Sharma
Ahmad Shahzad
Virat Kohli
Umar Akmal
Misbah-ul-Haq
MS Dhoni (Captain)
Shahid Afridi
Ravichandra Ashwin
Wahab Riaz
Bhuveneshwar Kumar
Mohammad Irfan
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1) Rohit Sharma vs Nasir Jamshed
The competition for the opening slot is as good as a walk over. All the talk before the World Cup around India’s batting is about Virat Kohli but at almost 28 this World Cup comes at the prime of his career for Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma has an average close to 39 but he is one of those explosive talents where the stats are misleading. On his day, Rohit Sharma is up there with the most devastating batsmen in the history of the game. Sri Lanka learnt that the hard way last year when Rohit Sharma smashed them for 264 runs in an ODI: a knock that included 33 fours and 9 sixes. Pakistan's entire team often struggles to score 264 runs in an ODI. He is also the only batsman in the history of the game to score two ODI double centuries. With those records it is baffling that India might just go with Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan as their opening pair.
Nasir Jamshed, a last minute inclusion into the Pakistan squad, has no chance against him. Jamshed has been woefully out of form recently and looked fidgety on the crease against England in the warm up. Like most left handed Pakistani batsmen, Jamshed is also highly susceptible outside his off stump. He is likely to struggle against the bounce generated by the pitches in Australia and New Zealand. Put your money on him getting caught up in the slips in the first ten overs more often than not.
Winner: Rohit Sharma
2) Shikhar Dhawan vs Ahmad Shahzad
When it comes to cricket, I am definitely old-school. Despite Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail being my favourite Pakistani opening batting partnership, I am a huge fan of selecting a right-handed and a left-handed opening batsman. For India, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan would form a formidable opening pair but Ahmad Shahzad has grown into a formidable batsman. Shahzad’s average is a mere 35 compared to Dhawan’s 43 but despite being six years his junior Shahzad has played more ODIs than him.
With Afridi and Misbah retiring from ODIs after the World Cup, Shahzad is one of the favourites to become the next captain of the Pakistan cricket team. He may not have the mental maturity required for now but he definitely has the self-belief required for a game of this magnitude. Shahzad does not doubt himself one bit when he walks out to bat and his recent performances have proven many of his doubters wrong. I may be a little biased towards my name sake but I will have to go with our own maverick batsman.
Winner: Ahmad Shahzad
3) Virat Kohli vs Younis Khan
If I was to make a World XI, it is likely that I would put Virat Kohli in the all-important one down spot in the batting order. Virat is the natural successor to Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian batting outfit. Whatever your allegiances, it is a pleasure to watch Virat Kohli bat. His abrasive attitude only adds to the entertainment value. Kohli already has 21 centuries and over 6,000 runs at age 26. If he plays at the top of his game for the next ten years, it is likely that he may smash all the ODI records. Sachin scored a century for every 9.2 innings in his career whereas Virat Kohli has scored a century at a staggering rate of one per every 6.8 innings.
As great a servant as Younis Khan has been for cricket in Pakistan, this world cup comes in the twilight of his career. At 37, we can still rely on Younis Khan to hold the fort steady at one end or keep the strike rate ticking over but his days as a match winner are over. The humble man from Mardan would probably admit defeat himself against the ferocious talent of Virat Kohli.
Winner: Virat Kohli
4) Ajinkya Rahane vs Umar Akmal
The first of the really tough ones, with Rohit Sharma up top Rahane is likely to occupy the middle order. Both the players have all the talent in the world but do not always apply themselves completely. Both are prone to the odd shot and lack the mental fortitude to turn them into the absolute best. On their day, both the players can be true match winners.
This World Cup is perfectly poised for Umar Akmal to really announce himself to the world like Inzamam did during the 1992 world cup. It seems like Misbah is backing Umar Akmal as Imran backed Inzamam. For a confidence player like Akmal, they need to be feel loved for them to perform to the best of their abilities. For those reasons, my personal bias and Rahane’s tendency to be a little unsure of himself, I am going to back Umar Akmal for the number 4 spot.
Winner: Umar Akmal
5) Suresh Raina vs Misbah ul Haq
Suresh Raina has been in and out of the Indian cricket team. The more precarious talent Yuvraj Singh was often preferred to the more tenacious Suresh Raina. Raina does not often steal the headlights but like Misbah in the Pakistan cricket team, he is indispensable to the Indian cricket team. In a team of match winners, he is the one who does the simple things right. Misbah and Raina play the equivalent of the ‘Makelele’ role in football. Like a defensive midfielder screens the defence, they protect the lower order and like a defensive midfielder allows the flair players to shine, Raina and Misbah allow players like Rahane, Kohli, Afridi and Akmal to play their natural game.
One of the most astounding statistics in ODIs is that Misbah-ul-Haq has never scored a century. It is even more astounding that Misbah has an average of 42 despite not scoring a ton ever. It speaks to his consistency and reliability. If there is a batting collapse, I would trust Misbah ul Haq to steady the ship more than Suresh Raina. For the role they are selected to play in the team, I have to go with the player that fulfills that role better.
Winner: Misbah-ul-Haq
6) MS Dhoni vs Sarfaraz Ahmad
Sarfaraz Ahmad has proven to be a more reliable option behind the stumps than Kamran Akmal for Pakistan. Some of his knocks lower down the order have reminded Pakistani cricket fans of glory days of Moin Khan sweeping Glenn Mcgrath consistently for boundaries and sixes during the 1999 world cup. However, with just 36 ODIs under his belt, he is still inexperienced especially compared to the World Cup winning captain of India.
India would have still been a fantastic team without Dhoni in the past decade but guided by the calming influence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India managed to take all the talent in their team and win the last World Cup. Not only is Dhoni completely reliable as a wicket-keeper, he can walk into any team in the world solely based on his batting prowess. The qualities he brings to the team as a captain as an added bonus.
Winner: MS Dhoni
7) Ravindra Jadeja vs Shahid Afridi
Who will be the all-rounder in the team? Dhoni trusts and backs Jadeja. Jadeja is certainly proficient with the ball and the bat. He can be trusted to a job with either but I must bow to the talent that is Shahid Afridi. We all know how explosive Afridi can be with the bat but the real value he brings to the team consistently is with the ball. Afridi has grown into a spinner of some merit; his constant variety is a menace to any batsman in the world. This is likely to be his world cup and I fully expect Boom Boom to go out with a bang. A team with the talent of an India-Pakistan combined eleven can easily afford to carry the luxury of having Afridi in the batting line up. Cometh the hour, Cometh the man, Afridi is a big match player and there is no bigger stage in world cricket than an India Pakistan match in a World Cup.
Winner: Shahid Afridi
8) Ravichandran Ashwin vs Yasir Shah
All the talk in the World Cup is surrounding the seaming and bouncy wickets of Australia and New Zealand. The new regulations requiring two new balls from each end were enforced to balance the battle between the bat and the ball. However, I feel the spinners will play a huge role Down Under in this tournament.
The selection between Ashwin and Shah comes down to a choice of personal spinner. Ashwin is more experienced than Yasir Shah but as Shah showed in the warm up match against England there is a hint of Shane Warne about the young Pakistani leg-spinner. If the Pakistan-India game was in Sydney, I would be inclined to pick Shah but the game is in Adelaide. The modern cricket game is heavily skewed in favour of the batsmen and Ashwin’s ability to not go for runs gives him the edge. With Afridi already in the side as a leg spinner, Ashwin is likely to bring more variety to the team too.
Winner: Ravichandran Ashwin
9) Umesh Yadav vs Wahab Riaz
There is one thing separating the two seam bowlers: Pace. Wahab Riaz can be erratic but he has a couple of yards of pace on Umesh Yadav. As a Pakistani cricket lover, I would always be more inclined towards pace over discipline. The innovative shots and fielding regulations means even balls pitched on a good line and length can go for runs. The bowlers that will make the most difference this World Cup are bowlers that can take wickets. The last time the two sides met in a World Cup match, Wahab Riaz picked a few priceless scalps and I am backing him to do the same tomorrow. Riaz’s slingy action can give him success the same way that Johnson and Starc have been successful for Australia on the Australian pitches.
Winner: Wahab Riaz
10) Bhuveneshwar Kumar vs Ehsan Adil
Bhuveneshwar Kumar was touted as India’s answer to a genuine fast bowler that could swing the ball both ways. For some reason fast bowlers in India always tend to lose a yard of pace after joining the senior cricket set up. Kumar has shown that he can trouble the Pakistani top order in the past and that experience would put him in good stead for the match tomorrow. Ehsan Adil is inexperienced and he has shown little to merit an inclusion into the Pakistani squad let alone a India-Pakistan combined XI. I believe Kumar would be licking himself at the prospect of going after the Pakistani top order with a new ball on the Adelaide pitch whereas Adil does not seem confident in his own abilities, and neither am I.
Winner: Bhuveneshwar Kumar
11) Mohammad Shami vs Mohammad Irfan
The last spot is the first time a Pakistani player seems the clear favourite pick. Mohammad Irfan has shown that he can cause trouble to any batsman in the world. Despite Wasim Akram singing praises of Mohammad Shami and Shami performing admirably in the Indian domestic setup, he is no match for Mohammad Irfan. Irfan is up there with the best left handed fast bowlers of the world. Not only can he get you wickets but he is extremely economical. If Pakistan is to win the match on Sunday, Mohammad Irfan has to perform. Irfan vs India’s top order will make for a fascinating contest.
Winner: Mohammad Irfan
Captain: MS Dhoni vs Misbah ul Haq
Dhoni and Misbah ul Haq would be remembered for two of the most successful captains for their own teams but in the shorter version of the game, it is Dhoni that has had more success than Misbah. Misbah tends to be more defensive whereas Dhoni is not afraid to take risks. For Dhoni’s pedigree of proving that he can lead the team to glory on the biggest stage of them all, I have to pick Dhoni for the captain’s armband.
Captain: MS Dhoni
Total: India 6, Pakistan 6
These are not the best Indian and Pakistani squads that have ever entered the World Cup but there is genuine unpredictability about both teams that is extremely exciting for the viewer. The game on Sunday can genuinely not be predicted with fans of both teams preferring to underplay their team’s chances in the game for once.
All in all it will make for an exciting contest and as far as the team is concerned, the analysis shows that is pretty neck and neck.
India-Pakistan Combined XI.
Rohit Sharma
Ahmad Shahzad
Virat Kohli
Umar Akmal
Misbah-ul-Haq
MS Dhoni (Captain)
Shahid Afridi
Ravichandra Ashwin
Wahab Riaz
Bhuveneshwar Kumar
Mohammad Irfan