Pakistan vs India Prediction: Pakistan made a statement by winning the first game by 200+ runs

Pakistan will be facing off against India in the third game of the Asia Cup at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan made a statement by winning the first game by 200+ runs. Will India be able to come up with the might to conquer the top ODI team? Who will win this game?

Pakistan has recently secured the top spot in the ODI world rankings, owing to its exceptional pace attack, the batting prowess of Imam ul Haq and Babar Azam, and a remarkable depth in their batting lineup.

The triumph against India in the T20 World Cup 2021, coupled with their victory in the Champions Trophy 2017, has significantly bolstered Pakistan's confidence in their ability to outshine India when conditions align favorably. In this match, our attention will be on key batters like Imam ul Haq, Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman.

Imam ul Haq's prowess in the ODI format is undeniable, boasting an impressive average of 51.50 across 62 matches, inclusive of 9 centuries and 18 fifties. While his average against India stands at 6.33 with a highest score of 10 in three matches, he's currently in good form for this encounter.

The prized wicket, however, remains Babar Azam. His smooth accumulation of ODI runs is a sight to behold, and he only needs to maintain his usual tempo. Nevertheless, Pakistan faces a challenge as Fakhar Zaman hasn't been in the best of form, and the middle-order remains relatively untested.

Frequently, Shadab Khan has stepped up to rescue the team with contributions from the lower order. It's anticipated that Pakistan will adopt a conservative approach initially to preserve wickets for later onslaughts.

The bowling lineup will inevitably showcase the talents of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, arguably one of the most potent bowling attacks worldwide. With genuine pace, swing, and potency throughout the game, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi will spearhead the attack with the new ball, while Haris Rauf will follow as the first change.

Leading the spin department, Shadab Khan's role as the primary spinner will be pivotal, and the choice between a fifth bowler as a spinner or a fast bowler will hinge on the playing conditions.

Fakar Zman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c) , Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohd. Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah, Harris Rauf, Nasim shah

India enters this match against Pakistan with a slight disadvantage, given the unavailability of KL Rahul, their primary wicketkeeper-batter. Consequently, India faces the decision of either rearranging its top order or positioning Ishan Kishan out of his usual spot.

It appears likely that Virat Kohli will shift to the number four position, accommodating Shubman Gill at number three, thereby enabling Kishan to open alongside Rohit Sharma.

India's batting lineup is robust, boasting substantial experience and depth. The spotlight will naturally be on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, yet the contributions of Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and even Hardik Pandya should not be underestimated. With most of India's ODI batters maintaining an average around 50 and accustomed to posting substantial scores, the batting unit is potent.

However, the challenge lies in striking the right balance within the playing eleven, as none of the batters contribute with the ball, and none of the bowlers possess significant batting abilities. The batting order extends only until the seventh spot, followed by four number elevens. To mitigate this, a potential strategy could involve deploying Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and either Axar Patel or Shardul Thakur at positions 6, 7, and 8.

The pivotal question remains whether India should opt for Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah as their bowling trio, relying on the top seven batters to handle the task. In our viewpoint, India might select two out of the three fast bowlers, likely Siraj and Bumrah, alongside Kuldeep Yadav as the wrist-spinner, and allocate the remaining overs to the all-rounders.

Given the ongoing uncertainties surrounding team balance and potential disruptions in the middle-order, it's challenging to justify the odds favoring India. Although India holds a commendable record against Pakistan in recent times, the current team might not be operating at its peak form.

Shubhman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyash Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

The weather projection for September 2nd, 2023, in Pallekele presents a blend of conditions. Anticipate some precipitation along with consistent cloud cover looming above. This situation could potentially offer assistance to bowlers wielding the new ball. Moreover, the likelihood of dew later in the match could prove advantageous for the chasing team.

The typical score for the side batting first is around 248 runs, yet teams will set their sights on attaining a minimum of 300 runs, and perhaps even aiming as high as 320. Notably, in November 2022, Afghanistan managed to chase down 311 against Sri Lanka at this very venue, implying that sizeable runs can indeed be accumulated.

India and Pakistan stand on near-equal footing as teams. They both possess potent bowling arsenals and commendable batting talents. While the sentiment might sound trite (because it is), the reality remains that India's batting typically excels, whereas Pakistan's bowling tends to be more robust. Much hinges on the selection, strategies, and day-of conditions, necessitating a certain degree of adaptability. The reentry of Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer onto the Indian squad bears immense significance. Additionally, the wrist-spin proficiency of Kuldeep Yadav should not be underestimated.

We expect a close encounter and India to come out on top.