Bitter-rivals India and Pakistan meet in a blockbuster conflict on the World Cup on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Both groups have had good begins to the event with two wins of their first two outings. India and Pakistan had met in the course of the Asia Cup final month with Rohit Sharma and his males registering a 228-run win over the Babar Azam-led facet. Here are 4 key battles that might determine the eagerly-awaited contest on the world’s greatest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi

India skipper Rohit Sharma has struggled in opposition to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s left-arm tempo within the few outings the 2 groups have had in latest occasions.

Shaheen rattled Rohit’s off stump of their first Asia Cup match in Pallekele final month when the opener’s lack of footwork noticed him bowled for 11.

The duel started on the T20 World Cup in 2021 when Shaheen trapped Rohit lbw for a duck within the first over in Dubai along with his tempo and swing.

But Rohit got here again ready when the rivals subsequent met in Colombo and remained cautious in opposition to the fast regardless of hitting a six off his first over.

Virat Kohli vs Haris Rauf

The stakes had been excessive when Virat Kohli got here up in opposition to Haris Rauf in a difficult chase on the T20 World Cup in Melbourne final 12 months.

India wanted 31 off the final 18 balls whereas chasing 160 when Kohli held his nerve to smash Rauf for 2 sixes to deliver the home down at a packed MCG.

The first was a size ball which Kohli dispatched straight down the bottom and he flicked the following to over fine-leg en path to victory.

Kohli later stated the sixes had been “instinctive”, but it surely started an excellent battle with the Pakistan fast which awaits one other showdown in Ahmedabad.

Jasprit Bumrah vs Babar Azam

Jasprit Bumrah skilled the Pakistan captain’s skill on the 2021 T20 World Cup within the United Arab Emirates.

Azam took on the Indian assault together with Bumrah, a yorker king, with ease as he and Mohammad Rizwan steered the staff to a 10-wicket victory in Dubai.

But two years later Bumrah and firm appeared to have learnt their classes once they bowled out Pakistan for 128 in a crushing 228-run win in an Asia Cup Super Four conflict.

Bumrah beat the bat of Azam on a couple of events in Colombo earlier than Hardik Pandya obtained the prized wicket.

Iftikhar Ahmed vs Kuldeep Yadav

Iftikhar Ahmed is a middle-order batsman who can play anchor or go after the bowling with equal ease however on the Asia Cup final month, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav reduce brief the batsman’s knock, taking a sensible catch off his personal bowling.

Kuldeep, a left-arm wrist spinner, claimed 5-25 in that sport as India claimed a 228-run win.

Iftikhar’s job on Saturday will likely be to sort out the spinners within the center overs and in addition speed up the scoring.

(With AFP Inputs)