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India and Pakistan will open their T20 World Cup campaign on October 24 facing each other. Pakistan have never beaten India in a T20 World Cup fixture, dating from their first meeting in 2007, where they defeated Pakistan in the group match as well as the final to lift the maiden title. In 2016 T20 World Cup encounter at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, hosts India crushed Pakistan by six wickets.
The numbers are clearly tilted in India’s favour with 12-0 record against the arch-rivals in the World Cup events, winning on seven occasions in the 50-overs World Cup and five times at the T20 World Cup.
The two teams will be meeting for the first time after the 2019 World Cup, where India registered a comprehensive win over their sub-continental neighbours by 89 runs via D/L method.
Former Pakistan bowler Umar Gul has given Babar Azam & Co. his mantra on how to win against Kohli & his boys. Gul wants the 2017 Champions Trophy winner to focus on one thing and that is to send back Indian star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma cheaply. It was Rohit and Kohli’s innings of 140 and 85 respectively that helped India put a mammoth total of 336/5 on the scoreboard in the 2019 World Cup that helped India win the rain-marred game by a big margin.
“India has worked really hard on their team and realistically, they are very strong. The IPL has benefited and given them several players. If you have to look at their batting, then Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the main players. They are a part of India’s top order. Get them out and India will be under pressure. If in the Powerplay, Pakistan can dismiss 2-3 of their top order batsmen, then it will be tough for the rest of the batsmen,” Gul told Pakistan Cricket.
