The stage is set for the cricket's greatest rivalry as India and Pakistan will be pitted against each other in a fierce ODI World Cup face off which is slated to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on October 14, Saturday.
As the arch-rivals gear up for a high-octane battle, discussions are rife about the individual clashes that could define the game's outcome.
And right at the heart of this conversation is the fiery face-off between Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli and Pakistani tearaway speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Amid all the talks, spin legend Harbhajan Singh has given his verdict on the winner between Kohli and Shaheen during an interaction with Star Sports. Celebrating the expected clash between Kohli and Afridi, Harbhajan confidently backed Kohli to emerge victorious, citing the stellar form the former Indian captain has displayed in the ongoing tournament. In the 2023 World Cup, Kohli has indeed set the stage ablaze, notching consecutive half-centuries in India's first two matches.
Speaking of the much-anticipated battle, Harbhajan expressed, “It is a good battle but I feel the sort of form Virat is in, he will win this battle. Shaheen pitches the ball extremely full and tries to get batters out lbw or bowled with the new ball.”
However, Harbhajan didn't forget to lavish praise on Afridi. Harbhajan opined that Afridi excels when the conditions favor his style of bowling. Nonetheless, in conditions that don't suit him, Afridi's impact might not be as profound.
“Shaheen has not left such a big impression in the last five to seven matches, if you include the Asia Cup and the World Cup. He needs the conditions. If the conditions are good, he becomes an excellent bowler but if the conditions are not in his favor, he is just a decent bowler,” Harbhajan added.
India and Pakistan have kicked off their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign on a winning note. While India secured victories against both the five-time champions Australia and new entrants Afghanistan, Pakistan too have showcased a commendable performance by defeating Netherlands and then Sri Lanka in Hyderabad.
As far as World Cup 2023 points table is concerned, India are holding a strong third position with a notable net run-rate of +1.500. Close on their heels, Pakistan are occupying the fourth spot, boasting a net run-rate of +0.927.
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