NEW DELHI: India vs Pakistan cricket matches are regarded as the mother of all clashes, even greater than The Ashes. Both teams do not face each other in bilateral matches due to political tensions between the two neighbouring nations but whenever they meet each other in ICC tournaments, the euphoria and the excitement among fans across the borders is unparalleled.
The last time these two opponents faced each other was in the Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE. Both teams faced each other twice where the first match was won by India the second was won by Pakistan. Both the matches were so intense that no one could predict which side the match could go to.
Ahead of another blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan on 23rd October this time in the 8th edition of the T20 World Cup, TimesofIndia.com looks into the top-5 impact batters from both the sides.
1. Suryakumar Yadav: Ever since his debut last year, swashbuckling Suryakumar Yadav has been piling up runs for fun. The impact Surya has had in the middle order batting has made the Indian batting line-up a mighty strong unit. In 2022, Surya has scored 801 runs in 23 matches with an average of 40.05 & strike rate of 184.56 which includes six half-centuries & a hundred. The upcoming T20 World Cup will be Surya's second outing at the cricketing extravaganza and he is expected to light up the highly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground coming Sunday.
2. Mohammad Rizwan: The one who idolises Adam Gilchrist knows how to attack the bowling line-up. The current No.1 batsman Mohammad Rizwan is having a golden period with his batting, winning almost every game single-handedly. Rizwan at the top order with his captain Babar Azam has ensured the perfect starts for his team. In 2022, Rizwan has scored 821 runs in 18 matches with an average of 54.73 & strike rate of 126.30 which includes nine half-centuries.
3. Virat Kohli: 'Run Machine' has always been an integral part of the Indian batting line-up. The former India captain has roared back to form after having a couple of torrid years. In September during the Asia Cup, Virat finally got his maiden T20I hundred as he equalled Ricky Ponting's tally of 71 international centuries across formats. With his confidence and elegant batting, Virat will play a major role in this World Cup which is being held in Australia, a place where he has scored a good amount of runs throughout his career. This year, Virat has scored 485 runs in 14 matches with an average of 44.09 & strike rate of 139.36 which includes four half-centuries and a hundred.
4. Babar Azam: The next-gen batter, Babar Azam is now competing with the modern greats of the game. The way Babar has been breaking records, he is on course in becoming one of the greatest batters of all time. With his captaincy, Babar has shown a new direction to the Pakistan team. This World Cup, Babar will be leading Pakistan for the second time. The hopes of Pakistan doing well heavily rely on the batting prodigy. In 2022, Babar has scored 611 runs in 19 matches with an average of 38.18 at a strike rate of 131.96 which includes four half-centuries and a hundred.
5. Rohit Sharma: The name itself speaks about his legacy in the shortest format. With four centuries to his name, Rohit Sharma holds the record for most centuries in T20Is. This will be the first time Rohit will be leading India in any ICC tournament. The country of 1.3 billion people is having huge expectations this time around that Rohit will bring back the title after 14 years. Whenever Rohit gets hold of his play, he can destroy any bowling line-up. In 2022, Rohit has scored around 540 runs in 23 matches with an average of 25.71 at a strike rate of 142.48 which includes two half-centuries.
