IND vs PAK: Deep Dasgupta Picks Seven Indian Players In His Combined India-Pakistan XI

Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta has picked his combined India-Pakistan XI ahead of the much-awaited India vs Pakistan match in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday (October 14) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Both India and Pakistan have made a strong start to their World Cup campaigns. Both the teams have won their opening two games. Pakistan has defeated the Netherlands and Sri Lanka so far while India have registered wins over Australia and Afghanistan.

Deep Dasgupta’s combined India-Pakistan XI:

Ahead of the game, Deep Dasgupta has named his combined XI. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, the former cricketer-turned-commentator picked seven players from India and four from Pakistan in his side. He began by picking India captain Rohit Sharma and his Pakistan counterpart Babar Azam as the openers.

Rohit scored a 63-ball century in his last outing while Babar has endured a tough campaign in the World Cup so far. Speaking about the Pakistan star, Deep Dasgupta hailed him as a class act and backed him to regain his form. At number three, four, and five, he went with Virat Kohli, Mohammad Rizwan, and KL Rahul respectively before picking Saud Shakeel for the no. six slots.

For the allrounder’s spot, the ex-cricketer picked India star Hardik Pandya. As far as the bowling lineup is concerned, he picked three pacers and one spinner. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Shaheen Afridi are the pacers in the team while Kuldeep Yadav is the sole spinner.

“My combined XI as it stands now based on current performance, obviously Rohit to start. Who’s gonna open with him? I am gonna promote Babar. I know he has not got too many runs but he is a class act. He will get runs,” said Deep Dasgupta.

“Virat at three. Four is Rizwan, five KL Rahul. Six I am gonna go with Saud Shakeel. Seven would be Hardik Pandya, the all-rounder. Eight, I am gonna go with Kuldeep. Nine, ten, eleven, three seamers – Bumrah, Siraj and Shaheen Afridi,” he added.

Does Babar Azam make it into Deep Dasgupta's combined Pakistan-India XI? #CWC23 #INDvPAK ? pic.twitter.com/7lmZRs0zg7

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 14, 2023