WC 2023 – Will Pakistan Seize Their ‘Mauka,’ or Will India Keep Dominating Them in the ODI World Cup?
Varad Bhatkhande
Ahmedabad, 13th October 2023 – The highly anticipated clash between cricketing archrivals India and Pakistan is set to take place on October 14, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This will mark the 12th official match of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup and promises to be a spectacle of epic proportions.
The excitement surrounding this match is unparalleled, primarily because Pakistan is returning to Indian soil for a major cricketing event after the 2016 T20 World Cup. The Narendra Modi Stadium, boasting the highest seating capacity of any stadium in India, was destined to host this historic encounter.
In their most recent encounter, during the Asia Cup’s Super 4 fixture on September 10, 2023, at Colombo’s R. Premadasa International Stadium, India convincingly defeated Pakistan by a margin of 228 runs, demonstrating their dominance. However, this time, the stakes are much higher as they meet on the grand stage of the ICC ODI World Cup.
Historically, India holds a 100% win record against Pakistan in ICC ODI World Cup tournaments. Both teams have begun their 2023 World Cup campaign with two consecutive victories, setting the stage for a thrilling battle. It’s worth noting that their last encounter in this tournament was during the 2019 edition, where India triumphed by 89 runs with the DLS method coming into play. Much has changed in both teams since then, making past fixtures less indicative of the outcome.
Narendra Modi Stadium, formerly known as Motera Stadium, has witnessed 18 matches featuring India from 1984 to 2022. Out of these, India secured victory in 10 matches while conceding 8 defeats. Both India and Pakistan have played on flat pitches in their first two matches of the World Cup campaign, but the pitch conditions may vary.
The weather forecast for Ahmedabad on October 14 predicts light rain, which could potentially influence the outcome of the game. Narendra Modi Stadium offers a variety of pitches, including black soil and a mixture of different soil types. Black soil pitches tend to yield high-scoring encounters, while red soil pitches dry out quickly and favour bowlers. The pitch used in the opening game of the 2023 World Cup favoured batting, but the presence of dew under the lights could alter conditions.
The official pitch report will be available just before the toss, allowing the team captains to assess the pitch and select their playing elevens accordingly. As things stand, both teams are likely to stick with the same combinations they used in their previous matches. Unfortunately, Shubman Gill is still recovering from dengue and will not participate in this crucial encounter.
The India vs. Pakistan clash is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, and cricket fans from both nations and around the world are eagerly awaiting this epic showdown.
