IND vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2024: India batters or Pakistan pacers, who have edge over whom? Will New York pitch continue to support pacers?
India vs Pakistan, it happens rarely in cricket. And when it happens in a multi-nation competition such as the T20 World Cup 2024, it lights up the whole tournament. The last time India played Pakistan was in 2022 World T20 when a Virat Kohli special grabbed a thriller for the ‘Men In Blue’. It would be another eye-watering contest when the two teams face off on June 9 in New York. But there is a catch. Rather than the batters or bowlers from either side making headlines, the pitch could make the difference in the end result.
Dangerous batting conditions and low scores has been the norm in New York
The pitch at the cricket stadium in Eisenhower Park, New York, where India vs Pakistan match will be held, is already labelled tricky. This came after the previous two matches in the ongoing World T20 edition saw pacers bowl out the opponents for 77 and 96, respectively. It was Sri Lanka who faced the humiliation first after they were bowled out for 77 by South Africa with Anrich Nortje taking 4/7. In the second match, India pacers took 8/81 to bowl out Ireland for 96.
The pitch had uneven bounce, making batting extremely difficult. Some balls kept low, while some rocketed above the keeper's eye-level. It was a case of survival for batters as run-scoring was a tough task. The pitch was dangerous to bat on. It was evident when batters from both sides were struck on their body. Rohit Sharma had to endure body blows and even retired hurt after a delivery hit his shoulder. Rishabh Pant too faced no difference.
Come June 9, pacers from both India and Pakistan would be itching to have a go at the opponents. But the real battle would be between India’s famed batting line-up versus Pakistan’s menacing pace attack.
Battle to watch out: India batters vs Pakistan pacers
India have experienced batters in Rohit, Kohli, Pant, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya to tackle any conditions and score runs. But Pakistan have a threatening pace attack, clocking 140 km/hr and above to rattle any opposition. India need not look far than the last two World T20 matches against Pakistan where the latter’s pacers rattled India’s top-order batters. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the wrecker-in-chief, dismissing both openers KL Rahul and skipper Rohit to reduce India to 2/6 in the 2021 World T20. India lost the match by 10 wickets. In the 2022 World T20, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah reduced India to 26/3 before Kohli took India home.
This time, all pacers – Naseem, Afridi, Rauf and the experienced Mohammad Amir – in the Pakistan squad, and would be eyeing to run through India’s top-order once again. They can bowl quick, swing, and use their variations to get the better of India’s batters on a pitch that is not only conducive for pace bowling, but also has inconsistent bounce. Will India survive Pakistan’s pace attack?
A low-scoring affair on the cards
A low-scoring affair is on the cards as the previous two matches have suggested. India have the experience to tackle such pitches and conditions. They have the maturity to play according to the demand and situation of the match. If India don’t lose too many wickets upfront in the powerplay against Pakistan’s pace attack, India can make a match of it in the middle-overs. Hence, it is going to be an interesting battle between India batters and Pakistan’s pacers.
However, Pakistan won’t have it easy either. India may not have an all-out fast bowler, but they have quality pacers who can bowl with decent pace and bowl the right line and length to dismiss batters on a tricky pitch. Having already played on the New York pitch against Ireland, India have a slight advantage of knowing what’s in store when they play Pakistan on Sunday. Hence, India would be better prepared against Pakistan both in terms of bowling the perfect length and also how to bat cleverly on the pitch and conditions on offer. However, Pakistan are an unpredictable team and can just do wonders on their day. Or, it could be the New York pitch that will probably have the last laugh.
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