India and Pakistan will face each other in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 stages on October 24.
This is expected to be a belter of a contest given the history and competitive spirit between the two traditional rivals.
India and Pakistan havent been playing any bilateral series due to the political issues between the countries. Since this an official ICC event and the World Cup no less, they are going to face-off against each other, which ups the stakes for both.
India has never lost to Pakistan in a World Cup fixture and the scoreline is 12-0 in favor of the Indian side.
The last meeting between these two sides happened in the 2019 World Cup, where India cruised to victory in the game.
But things could be different this time around.
3 Reasons why Pakistan can beat India in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2021
Lack Of Quality 6th Bowler For India
The absence of Hardik Pandya as a bowling option has opened up a lot of holes in the Indian side in terms of the bowling combination. Indias top five in the batting order are not part-time bowlers.
Hardik Pandya at number six was designated the role of a finisher as well as a sixth seam bowling option who had a knack of getting wickets. But with his back surgery, things have cooled for him as far his bowling exploits are concerned.
This lack of options might hurt India against a talented Pakistan batting side.
With just five bowlers in the side, Pakistan needs to target one or two bowlers from the Indian bowling unit.
Fakhar Zaman Is In The Form Of His Life
Fakhar Zaman was one of the reasons behind Pakistan beating India in the 2017 Champions Trophy and he has been in excellent form of late coming into the T20 World Cup 2021. He has scored an unbeaten 46 off 24 in the first warm-up game and backed it up with another 52 off 28 in the second warm-up game.
Zaman can be a game-changer for the Pakistan side with his ability dominate and take the game away in the middle overs.
India are unlikely to play R Ashwin in the playing XI as well which makes things easier for him and he just might be the impact player that Pakistan has to rise to the occasion.
Pakistan’s Formidable Bowling
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have had weaknesses against the incoming deliveries and Pakistan has an ace up their sleeve in Shaheen Shah Afridi, who swings it into the right-handers.
The others in the Pakistan pace attack, like Imad Wasim, are great new ball bowlers, Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf are able supporters in the middle overs. Shadab Khan has effective leg cutters while while Mohammad Hafeez is a vital spin component. Overall, Pakistan has covered all the bases in the bowling department.
Pakistan has been always a side that boasts of an excellent fast bowling unit and especially the left-arm seamers have always been formidable.
The only weak area India has had is the lack of left-arm seamers in the lineup, which might hurt them.Despite, India having Lukman Meriwala as a net bowler, it would be a different ball game at the international stage.