In a cricketing spectacle that reverberated across the globe, India showcased their formidable strength by securing a sensational 7-wicket victory against arch-rivals Pakistan at the majestic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Dinesh Karthik, a seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman for India, lauded the prowess of the Men in Blue, confirming their status as serious contenders in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

This victory not only extended India’s remarkable winning streak against Pakistan in ODI World Cups but also etched an indelible mark on the ongoing tournament.

Karthik’s Praise for India’s Dominance in the Cricket World Cup

Karthik’s sentiments, expressed in an interview with Sky Sports, echoed the feelings of cricket enthusiasts worldwide. India left an indelible impression with their strong performances, both with the bat and the ball, on the world stage.

“They’re two formidable teams, one in great form and the other finding its footing, but India demonstrated why they are such a force to be reckoned with and strong contenders for the World Cup. They bowled well, fielded brilliantly, and their captain delivered with the bat, which was truly enthralling to watch,” noted Karthik.

Rohit Sharma’s Dream Team: Key Player Selections

Karthik further emphasized the leadership of Rohit Sharma, describing the current squad as “Rohit Sharma’s dream team.” He shed light on the challenging decisions Rohit had to make, particularly regarding the selection of players for the 15-member squad.

Notably, the exclusion of highly-rated Yuzvendra Chahal and the replacement of the injured Axar Patel with Ravichandran Ashwin were undoubtedly tough choices. However, Rohit Sharma’s conviction in shaping the team’s composition has yielded positive results.

“If Rohit Sharma ever had a dream team, this is it. I say this because there were tough decisions to be made, such as the exclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal, who is held in high regard but didn’t make the cut,” said Karthik. “There was also the case of Axar Patel, who was initially selected but had to be replaced by Ashwin due to injury. Rohit has had those difficult conversations but also believed in what he envisions for this team,” Karthik added.

India’s magnificent victory against Pakistan propelled them to the top of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 points table, boasting an impressive net run-rate of +1.821. They have solidified their position as frontrunners in the tournament as they march forward in their quest for World Cup glory. The cricketing world eagerly anticipates more exceptional performances and unforgettable moments in this prestigious competition.

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir recently showered accolades on Jasprit Bumrah, hailing him as the preeminent force of lethality in the world of cricket today. As India prepares for a high-stakes showdown with Pakistan in Ahmedabad, Bumrah’s exceptional performance in the ongoing World Cup has thrust him into the spotlight.

Stellar Performance Against Afghanistan Garners Acclaim

Having secured six wickets in 20 overs across two matches, Bumrah’s standout exhibition against Afghanistan, where he scalped four wickets for a mere 39 runs, is now celebrated as one of the most exquisite bowling displays in the early stages of the 2023 World Cup. This remarkable spell played a pivotal role in India’s commanding 8-wicket triumph, earning Bumrah plaudits from fans and cricket pundits alike.

Gambhir’s Praise: Bumrah vs. Shaheen Shah Afridi

As the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash looms, all eyes are on Jasprit Bumrah. In a recent interview with Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir accentuated the glaring distinction between Bumrah and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi. Gambhir specifically pointed to Bumrah’s dismissals of Mitchell Marsh and Ibrahim Zadran in India’s previous encounters, underscoring the unparalleled influence Bumrah wields in the game.

World Cricket’s Most Lethal Bowler: Jasprit Bumrah

According to Gambhir, “The way he dismissed Mitchell Marsh on that wicket (in the first game against Australia) and the way he dismissed Ibrahim Zadran, if there is a complete and most lethal bowler in world cricket, it is Bumrah.”

He further emphasized the disparity, adding, “We compared Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Shah Afridi earlier; there is a huge difference.”

Unmatched Versatility: Bumrah’s Impact in Every Phase

Gambhir also drew attention to Bumrah’s exceptional adaptability, noting his capacity to make a significant impact during all phases of the game. Whether it’s with the new ball, in the middle overs, or at the death, Bumrah consistently delivers. This versatility sets him apart in a cricketing world often dominated by specialization. In Gambhir’s words, “Tell me one fast bowler who can make such an impact in every phase. Bowlers bowl well either with the new ball or at the death, but Bumrah has the same impact in the middle overs as he has with the new ball or the old ball.”

Anticipation Builds for India-Pakistan Showdown

As the India-Pakistan clash looms closer, cricket enthusiasts around the globe eagerly anticipate another display of Bumrah’s prowess and finesse, further cementing his status as one of the premier fast bowlers in the contemporary era.

Both India and Pakistan got one point each, as the match ended up being a draw. Pakistan made their place in the Super Fours after their victory against Nepal. Despite the conditions, both captains surprisingly wanted to bat first. 

India wins Hockey5s Asia Cup after beating Pakistan by 2-0 in Shootouts

India vs Pakistan match summary 

Rohit Sharma got going with a couple of boundaries off Shaheen Afridi’s bowling which was interrupted by the first batch of downpours. The tall left-arm speedster altered his length after being back in the field and quickly dismissed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, Haris Rauf dismissed Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill which got India into a pressure situation and the score of 66/4 in just the 15th over. 

The Indian cricket team fought back with a fantastic 138-run partnership brought up by the team’s middle-order batsmen Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya. Both of them scored 82 and 87 respectively, but India once again slipped (losing their last 5 wickets for a mere 27 runs). Pakistan successfully dismissed the whole Indian squad by taking all 10 wickets, while India posted a competitive total of 266 runs. 

Ahead of the speculations of the team’s participation, Pakistan is set to delegate security officers to visit India for the inspection of the grounds and venues of the cities where The Pakistan cricket team will play their games for the security of the players, team managerial staff and the fans.

Previously, the Pakistan cricket team travelled to India for their participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2016. Reportedly, a source from the Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Ministry confirmed that a delegated security officer will travel to India for the inspection after the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is elected.

READ MORE WC 2023: Check out the List of 10 Host Venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Matches in India

Revelations made by a Source from the Inter-Provincial Coordination

The source from the Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Ministry talked about a standard practice for the PCB to seek permission from the government before sending the team to India. He also talked about how the delegated security official will be responsible for talking to Indian officials about the security and arrangements for the players.

“The security delegation will go with representation from the PCB to inspect the venues where Pakistan will play and also the security and other arrangements made for them in the World Cup,” revealed the source from Inter-Provincial Coordination before ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

READ MORE WC 2023: Check out India’s Matches and How to Book Tickets Online for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

“Before any tour to India, it is standard practice for the cricket board to seek permission from the government which normally sends a delegation to India,” said the source.

“The delegation will interact with the officials there and discuss and inspect with them the security and other arrangements for our players, officials, fans, and media, who will go for the tournament. The PCB will share the report with the ICC and BCCI if the delegation has any concerns,” added the source from Inter-Provincial Coordination.

The highly anticipated and biggest cricket tournament in the world is set to witness thousands of spectators across the stadium spread all over India. The Indian cricket team will eye another ICC World Cup victory in their home after 2011.

Check out Team India’s Match Fixtures

Team India will play their first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia on October 8, in the M Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai and will conclude the league stage of the tournament with their match against the winner of the qualifier1 of the super six stage on 11 November in the Chinnaswamy stadium, Bengaluru.

IND vs AUS: October 8, Chennai
IND vs AFG: October 11, Delhi
IND vs PAK: October 15, Ahmedabad
IND vs BAN: October 19, Pune
IND vs NZ: October 22, Dharamshala
IND vs ENG: October 29, Lucknow
IND vs QF2: November 2, Mumbai
IND vs SA: November 5, Kolkata
IND vs QF1: November 11, Bengaluru

How and Where to Book Tickets Online for Matches?

The tickets for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be exclusively available for sale on the ICC Cricket World Cup app and their official website (cricketworldcup.com). The tickets are also sent to go live on BookMyShow and Paytm Insider.

The price range of tickets can vary, depending on the type of stands, the stadium and the fixture of the teams playing the game.

The tickets have not been made available yet by the ICC, but are expected to go live soon.

The BCCI has been given the charge of hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The tournament will commence on 5 October in the world’s largest stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The championship will begin with its first match with England and New Zealand in countering each other as we left off in the ICC Cricket World Cup, 2019, where England sealed the victory to become the defending champions.

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Meanwhile, the archrivals India and Pakistan will lock horns with each other on 15 October 2023, Sunday in the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The following will be the eighth encounter in the ICC World Cup between one of the two biggest cricket-playing nations.

India and Pakistan’s History in ICC Cricket World Cups

India has sealed an easy victory all the seven times they have met Pakistan in the ICC World Cups. The highly anticipated eighth match between the two has already made headlines following the country’s political tensions as India has refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023.

In the previous encounter between India and Pakistan, the Indian cricket team gave the latter a humongous target of 336 which was reduced as rain played spoilsport. Pakistan further failed to achieve even the reduced target and India restricted them to 216 runs and won the game by 89 runs.

The Narendra Modi stadium is expected to host 1,32,000 people according to its seating capacity, as the stadium is most likely to be sold out for the highly anticipated game.