Every word used to describe an India vs Pakistan clash has been over-exhausted by cricket players, pundits and fans in the past. Yet each time the two rivals face off, the tectonic shift in emotions reach unprecedented levels. This time, it is Adelaide's turn to host the biggest game cricket has to offer as India and Pakistan face off in the first Pool B battle of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Catch live updates from the match here. (India vs Pakistan Scorecard | India vs Pakistan in World Cups | Schedule)
(All times in IST):
0805: NDTV's Nikhil Naz who is just outside Adelaide Oval says fans can been seen for over a kilometer all across the stadium. "This is not Australia anymore. The energy is electric," he says.
0800: A fantastic afternoon in Adelaide and it is not a city in Australia today! It is painted in the Indian tri-colour and the Pakistani green.
A Pakistani and an Indian fan outside the Adelaide Oval.
© Getty Images
Adelaide is 9550 kilometers away from New Delhi - India's center of power. Add another 675 kilometers away from Pakistan's capital Islamabad. And yet, the two major countries of the subcontinent will transgress the global lengths and breadths to turn their attention towards Australia's fifth-largest city.
Geographical discourse used in cricketing context aside, India vs Pakistan is an epic clash. Period!
A file photo of Team India in a huddle.
© AFP
Team in Focus: India
World champions India are desperate to retain the Cup of Cups. Desperate, not eager or keen as much as simply desperate. And there's a reason why.
Form has been tardy, consistency has been a concern and the only win since the team's flight Down Under in November has been against Afghanistan in a warm-up match. They are world champions but they hardly look the part. (TOP 5 CLASHES)
What works for Team India:
The biggest advantage that the Indians have over their Pakistani counterpart is that they have never lost to them in a World Cup. Regardless of how close and tense the matches have been, the years 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 have seen the tri-colour flying high and handsome.
If past records though could win a cricket match, India would be unbeatable.
Players however can make a team unbeatable and that's where the likes of captain MS Dhoni and vice-captain Virat Kohli come in. India's strength lies in their batting and while Kohli can set the stage on fire, Dhoni can spark the final pyrotechnics with his late blitz. The absence of Pakistan's spin sensation Saeed Ajmal and an injured Mohammad Hafeez can ease the pressure.
What doesn't work for India:
Star players have not been in the best of form. Opener Shikhar Dhawan in particular has struggled on uncharacteristically flat Aussie pitch. A lackluster top-order has repeatedly banked on middle and lower-order lineup to throw the innings a lifeline. Ordinary batting can be devastating.
What is surely a concern is the bowling. India's pace battery suffered a crucial blow when Ishant Sharma limped out even before the tournament began. The remaining bowlers definitely have a right to be in the team but do they have the might to exert pressure on Pakistani batsmen who are well-known to crack?
Pakistan carrying too many youngsters: Inzamam
© AFP
Team in Focus: Pakistan
Ask any Pakistan fan why the national team has failed against India in World Cups and the standard reply is the team's overall record against the rivals. That Pakistan have won 72 duels as against India's 50 does lend a lot of credence to this line of argument. But as with India's record in World Cups, past numbers cannot guarantee wins to Pakistan either.
What works for Pakistan:
The biggest cheer in the Pakistan camp comes from the fact that the Indians are not in the best of form. Not that Pakistan team itself is in great shape but watching the rival's dismal performance in Australia can surely boost morale. "They (Pakistan's World Cup 2015 players) can be the team that breaks the record. They could be the ones that make history," chief selector Moin Khan said recently.
A look at the lineup will reveal that while many superstars are missing, there is no dearth in talent. The main weapon would be the bowling and that's where Mohammad Irfan would be absolutely pivotal. Such is his prowess that his reputation precedes him and the Indian were seen batting against deliveries from a greater height than usual during their net session. Just for the record, Irfan is a seven feet one inch tall and a pacer at that!
Add 'Boom-Boom' Shahid Afridi and experienced captain-cum-finisher Misbah-ul-Haq and one has the recipe for success.
What doesn't work for Pakistan:
For all their raw talent, Pakistani cricketers are also comparatively more susceptible to succumbing under pressure. "India have won all their World Cup matches against us because they played well and deserved to win," admitted Moin. Even former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV that Pakistan cricketers would be better off if they don't let pressure get to them. "Both teams are out of form but Pakistan cricketers have been guilty of feeling the pressure (when playing against India in a World Cup) more than us," he said.
If the team buckles, the dismay of not having Ajmal and Hafeez can be felt even bigger than it already is, going forward in the tournament.
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