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The Final: India v Pakistan
Date: Sunday June 18
Time: 10:30 BST
Venue: The Oval, London
How to watch: Link
HEAD-TO-HEAD
128 matches; India 52; Pakistan 72; no result 4
THE FORM
The mother of all battles. Cricket’s biggest showdown. In short, India v Pakistan is much more than a game, and that game just so happens to be only the second time the two sides meet in the final of a world event!
In many ways, it’s incredible that these two sides are actually meeting on this grand stage after India’s convincing triumph in the group stage, essentially forcing their rivals to go undefeated to stay alive.
But how things have changed in the two weeks since! Pakistan stunned the world’s No. 1 side in South Africa and also destroyed England, the tournament favourite. And what’s a Pakistan winning run without one of those mad scrambles, like the one that came against Sri Lanka? Out of nowhere, Pakistan has lifted itself to set a date with destiny.
India, meanwhile, have done exactly what was expected. Apart from a blip against Sri Lanka, they have been clinical and looked the team to beat in the competition. The batting has looked as strong as ever, but, incredibly, India now also have one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket.
In fact, it’s in the bowling department where there’s hardly anything to differentiate between India and Pakistan. Both sides have brilliant pacers who are backed by tidy spinners. They also have a knack of picking wickets in the middle overs – a phase of the game that has turned out to be the most crucial after the new fielding restrictions. India and Pakistan have got 18 wickets each from their four matches between overs 11 and 40.
Where India stands out though is its ability to handle pressure in big matches. In Mickey Arthur’s own words, Pakistan played the occasion last time instead of the opposition. This time, the occasion is much bigger, but Arthur has promised that their plans are based on “us” rather than “them”. If they can do that, the Edgbaston match and all the other previous encounters could well be history.
CONDITIONS
There is a reserve day for the final but it’s unlikely to be needed, for the sun has been out through the week in London and is forecast at 30 degrees tomorrow. It automatically means that teams from subcontinent will feel at home, and hopefully produce some of their best cricket.
The pitch is fresh and wasn’t used for any of the earlier games in the tournament. It makes for a fascinating contest as the conditions are batsmen-friendly, but the sides playing have the best bowling units.
THE MATCH-UP
India’s middle order v Pakistan’s middle-overs bowling.
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli have been in such good form that the middle order has hardly been needed to bat in the competition. That could well work against India on the big day as Pakistan has been brilliant in the middle overs, getting the ball to reverse from around the 30th over. Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir – who has been cleared fit to play – and Hasan Ali have breathed fire with the old ball, and if they can create some early inroads, India’s middle order might have a tough task in hand.
THE WILDCARDS
India:
Yuvraj Singh: He didn’t get to bat or bowl in his 300th ODI, but Pakistan will be aware of the threat that Yuvraj poses if he does get a chance. The left-hander turned the course of India’s innings, and thus the match, when he smashed a 32-ball 53 against Pakistan in Edgbaston. He’ll have a big job against a rejuvenated attack this time, but Yuvraj too is known to lift his game for big occasions.
Pakistan:
Babar Azam: Azam is among Pakistan’s biggest strengths with the bat, already making five centuries and six half-centuries in just 28 ODIs. He hasn’t made massive runs in the Champions Trophy so far, but did make crucial contributions against South Africa and England. On a batting-friendly track, Azam at No. 3 could well play a pivotal role for Pakistan.
WATCH OUT FOR…
Fakhar Zaman: The opening batsman is the difference between the Pakistan side that was destroyed by India at Edgbaston and the one that has got on a dream run since. Zaman has scores of 31, 50 and 57 at a strike-rate above 117, giving Pakistan the much needed quick starts. He’s in form, he’s daring and fearless. Just what Pakistan will need to ease its nerves on a big day.
Teams (from)
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (capt), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mohammed Shami, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav.
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan, Rumman Raees.
India won the toss and elected to field.
Date: Sunday June 18
Time: 10:30 BST
Venue: The Oval, London
How to watch: Link
HEAD-TO-HEAD
128 matches; India 52; Pakistan 72; no result 4
THE FORM
The mother of all battles. Cricket’s biggest showdown. In short, India v Pakistan is much more than a game, and that game just so happens to be only the second time the two sides meet in the final of a world event!
In many ways, it’s incredible that these two sides are actually meeting on this grand stage after India’s convincing triumph in the group stage, essentially forcing their rivals to go undefeated to stay alive.
But how things have changed in the two weeks since! Pakistan stunned the world’s No. 1 side in South Africa and also destroyed England, the tournament favourite. And what’s a Pakistan winning run without one of those mad scrambles, like the one that came against Sri Lanka? Out of nowhere, Pakistan has lifted itself to set a date with destiny.
India, meanwhile, have done exactly what was expected. Apart from a blip against Sri Lanka, they have been clinical and looked the team to beat in the competition. The batting has looked as strong as ever, but, incredibly, India now also have one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket.
In fact, it’s in the bowling department where there’s hardly anything to differentiate between India and Pakistan. Both sides have brilliant pacers who are backed by tidy spinners. They also have a knack of picking wickets in the middle overs – a phase of the game that has turned out to be the most crucial after the new fielding restrictions. India and Pakistan have got 18 wickets each from their four matches between overs 11 and 40.
Where India stands out though is its ability to handle pressure in big matches. In Mickey Arthur’s own words, Pakistan played the occasion last time instead of the opposition. This time, the occasion is much bigger, but Arthur has promised that their plans are based on “us” rather than “them”. If they can do that, the Edgbaston match and all the other previous encounters could well be history.
CONDITIONS
There is a reserve day for the final but it’s unlikely to be needed, for the sun has been out through the week in London and is forecast at 30 degrees tomorrow. It automatically means that teams from subcontinent will feel at home, and hopefully produce some of their best cricket.
The pitch is fresh and wasn’t used for any of the earlier games in the tournament. It makes for a fascinating contest as the conditions are batsmen-friendly, but the sides playing have the best bowling units.
THE MATCH-UP
India’s middle order v Pakistan’s middle-overs bowling.
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli have been in such good form that the middle order has hardly been needed to bat in the competition. That could well work against India on the big day as Pakistan has been brilliant in the middle overs, getting the ball to reverse from around the 30th over. Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir – who has been cleared fit to play – and Hasan Ali have breathed fire with the old ball, and if they can create some early inroads, India’s middle order might have a tough task in hand.
THE WILDCARDS
India:
Yuvraj Singh: He didn’t get to bat or bowl in his 300th ODI, but Pakistan will be aware of the threat that Yuvraj poses if he does get a chance. The left-hander turned the course of India’s innings, and thus the match, when he smashed a 32-ball 53 against Pakistan in Edgbaston. He’ll have a big job against a rejuvenated attack this time, but Yuvraj too is known to lift his game for big occasions.
Pakistan:
Babar Azam: Azam is among Pakistan’s biggest strengths with the bat, already making five centuries and six half-centuries in just 28 ODIs. He hasn’t made massive runs in the Champions Trophy so far, but did make crucial contributions against South Africa and England. On a batting-friendly track, Azam at No. 3 could well play a pivotal role for Pakistan.
WATCH OUT FOR…
Fakhar Zaman: The opening batsman is the difference between the Pakistan side that was destroyed by India at Edgbaston and the one that has got on a dream run since. Zaman has scores of 31, 50 and 57 at a strike-rate above 117, giving Pakistan the much needed quick starts. He’s in form, he’s daring and fearless. Just what Pakistan will need to ease its nerves on a big day.
Teams (from)
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (capt), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mohammed Shami, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav.
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan, Rumman Raees.
India won the toss and elected to field.
Last edited by a moderator:
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we finna get murdered huh? 
