India vs Pakistan: Strongest IND Playing XI vs PAK For ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Opener

India vs Pakistan: Strongest IND Playing XI vs PAK For ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Opener. Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will head into the ICC T20I World Cup 2022 starting later this month will an aim to win their first title since the inaugural triumph under MS Dhoni back in 2007. After a disappointing showing in the T20I World Cup 2021 where they failed to reach the semifinals, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will look for a much better showing down under in Australia.

The venue of the 2022 T20I World Cup tournament is Australia. The Men in Blue will play their opening match of the upcoming T20I World Cup 2022 on October 23 against Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground. India is part of group 2 in the tournament with teams like Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh in their pool.

The last time the two teams met at the 2021 T20I World Cup, Pakistan had beaten India by 10 wickets in their Super 12 match in Dubai to register their first-ever win against their neighbours in World Cups. Babar Azam hit an unbeaten 68, while Mohammad Rizwan smashed an unbeaten 79. Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a terrific spell of 3/31 with three prized scalps of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli.

India vs Pakistan: Strongest IND Playing XI vs PAK For ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Opener

KL Rahul

Since returning from injury, KL Rahul has finally found some form, and all the concerns around his strike rate have been answered. KL Rahul is the vice-captain of the Indian team as well. The right-handed batsman has scored 108 runs in 2 games against South Africa with 2 half-centuries. Against Australia, the right-handed batsman slammed 66 runs across 3 games with 1 half-century.

KL Rahul’s 55-ball-74 knock against Western Australia in the 2nd warm-up game will boost his confidence. He top-scored with 57 off 33 balls against Australia in the 1st warm-up game. His innings comprised 6 fours and 3 sixes.

Rohit Sharma

This tournament will be Rohit Sharma’s first appearance as the captain of India in an ICC tournament. Rohit Sharma piled up 43 runs in 3 games in the previous T20I series against South Africa. He got out for ducks in two games but played a good knock in one match. In the prior T20I series against Australia, Rohit Sharma smacked 74 runs in 3 games and also won the man of the match award in one match.

Rohit Sharma will play the warm-up game against Australia and will try to be amongst runs prior to the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. He played both warm-up games against Western Australia XI and while he didn’t bat in the second, he scored 3 runs in the first match. He scored 15 off 14 balls against Australia in the 1st warm-up game.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kolhi, since his break, has just rediscovered his form and is back to what he does best for the team- providing consistency and solidarity. He slammed a century in Asia Cup 2022.

Later, Virat Kohli piled up 76 runs in 3 games against Australia with a match-winning 63 in the 3rd T20I match. Against South Africa, Virat Kohli scored 52 runs in 2 games with an unbeaten 49-run knock in one match. Virat Kohli recently returned to form in the Asia Cup 2022 where he was the 2nd highest run-getter by amassing 276 runs in 5 T20Is averaging 92.

He also hit a ton after 2019 and his first in T20I by scoring 122* against Afghanistan. He followed it up by scoring 63 in a T20I against Australia and 49* in a T20I against Proteas. He averages 67.67 against Pakistan having amassed 406 runs in 9 T20Is. He was rested for the two warm-up games against Western Australia XI. He scored 19 off 13 balls against Australia in another warm-up game.

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav-the man who can’t do any wrong in this T20I format and India’s own Mr. 360, is one of the most improved players since the last World Cup and is going through a purple patch.  The right-handed batsman scored 119 runs in 3 games at an average of 59.50 and a strike rate of 195+ against South Africa.

Against Australia, Suryakumar Yadav scored 115 runs in 3 games and also won the player of the series award. He has scored 801 runs this year averaging 40.05 in 23 innings at a strike rate of 184.56 and is ranked No. 2 in T20Is only behind Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan. His 52-run-knock off 35 balls in the game against Western Australia XI will give him confidence. He scored another 50, this time against Australia in a warm-up game.

Hardik Pandya

Since regaining his full fitness, Hardik Pandya has just been seen winning games single-handedly for India and is contributing in all three facets of the game. He has been striking at 151.39 since coming back into the team and is expected to play with this same aggressive intent in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. He provides the team with the necessary balance, i.e., the 6th bowler.

The right-handed batsman slammed 105 runs in 3 games against Australia with 1 half-century. He could not pick any wicket in the Australia series. Hardik Pandya was not part of the previous series against South Africa. He scored 44 runs combined in the two warm-up games against Western Australia XI. He scored only 2 and was wicketless in the 1st warm-up game against Australia.

Dinesh Karthik

The man who made a comeback to the team in a more specialized role of a finisher is essential for the team to finish strong in the last few overs. Dinesh Karthik is batting at a strike rate of 150+ since his comeback and has given solid finishes and won a few games on his merit this year.

Against Australia, Dinesh Karthik scored 17 runs in 3 games. He was unbeaten in 2 innings. In one game, he slammed a four and six in the final over when the team needed 9 runs. In the previous T20I against South Africa, the right-handed batsman slammed 63 runs in 2 innings, with a 46-run knock in one match.

Dinesh Karthik scored 29 runs in the two warm-up games against Western Australia XI while Rishabh Pant managed only 18 runs. Dinesh Karthik scored 20 against Australia in 1st warm-up match.

Axar Patel

Ravindra Jadeja, who misses out on India’s T20 World Cup squad due to injury, has paved the way for a like-to-like replacement in Axar Patel, who, just like the former, contributes to all three departments. He has already picked up 18 wickets this year, and the bigger ground dimensions in Australia will favour this left-arm spin bowler.

The left-arm spinner won the player of the series award against Australia T20Is, after bagging 8 wickets in 3 games at an average of 7.87. He was the top wicket-taker in the series. Against South Africa, the left-arm spinner picked 2 wickets in 3 games. Axar Patel was wicketless in both games against Western Australia XI. He scored 6 runs in the warm-up game against the Aussies but didn’t bowl.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will now shoulder the responsibility of leading the Indian pace bowling attack in the T20 World Cup in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He is lethal with the new bowl as he can swing the bowl both ways, creating problems for the batters at the top. He is India’s top wicket-taker in this format this year. However, his death bowling is a concern.

He picked 1 wicket in 2 games against Australia at an average of 91.0 and an economy of 13.0. He was a little costly in the series. However, he has shown good form this year, winning the player of the series award multiple times. He took 2 wickets averaging 20.5 bowling 6 overs in the two warm-up games against Western Australia XI. He picked 2/20 in 3 overs against Australia in a warm-up game.

Arshdeep Singh

The left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has executed a spectacular performance in his short T20I career so far. In the previous T20I series against South Africa, the left-arm pacer picked 5 wickets in 2 games at an average of 18.80 and an economy of 11.75. He didn’t feature in the series against Australia.

The Punjab bowler, who made his international debut in the T20I against England this year, has played 13 T20I matches and scalped 19 wickets so far averaging 19.79. He was the highest wicket-taker in the warm-up games against Western Australia XI with 4 scalps at an average of only 7.75. Arshdeep Singh picked 1/34 in the warm-up game against the Aussies.

Mohammed Shami

Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami replaced injured Jasprit Bumrah in the 15-member Indian cricket squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, starting October 16 in Australia. Mohammed Shami last played in T20Is during the last edition of the ICC 2021 T20I World Cup in the UAE.

He was supposed to play in the six T20Is at home against Australia and South Africa but tested positive for COVID-19 and had to remain in isolation. On return, he had to prove his fitness before NCA approved his trip to Australia.

Mohammed Shami played the warm-up game against Australia as he hasn’t played any T20I since the last T20I World Cup. He picked 3 wickets conceding 4 runs while bowling the final 20th over against Australia in the warm-up game. He thus defended 11 runs successfully in the final over as India won by 6 runs. Harshal Patel is another contender for the slot.

Yuzvendra Chahal

After missing out on last year’s 2021 T20I World Cup, Yuzvendra Chahal has been included in this year’s 2022 T20I World Cup. He has repeatedly proved his worth for India during the middle overs. He has already taken 21 wickets at an economy of 7.60 this year.

In his previous series against Australia, the right-arm spinner grabbed 2 wickets in 3 games at an average of 38.0 and an economy of 9.12. He is the top spin bowler for India so far, having taken the joint most wickets alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar for India in T20Is-85 scalps in 69 T20Is.

He played the first warm-up game against Western Australia XI where he picked 2 scalps conceding only 15 runs and averaged a mere 7.5 at an economy of 3.8. He picked 1/28 in 3 overs in the warm-up game against Australia.