Asia Cup 2023 Showdown: Pakistan and India Compete for an Advantage in the Race to the Finals

Asia cup - India vs pakistan

In their previous match, Pakistan’s players managed to reduce India to a challenging 66 for 4. However, the historical rivalry between these cricketing giants shows that India has lost only once in the last five encounters against Pakistan.

Fast forward to the present, India and Pakistan are set to face each other again, merely eight days after their previous encounter, in the Super 4 fixture scheduled for September 10 in Colombo. The previous match was unfortunately washed out after India posted a competitive 266 runs on the board. This time around, India’s top-order batsmen are determined to put up a stronger performance.

Heading into this match, India carries the tag of favorites with odds of 1.60, while Pakistan, fresh from a convincing seven-wicket win over Bangladesh, is priced at 2.10 to secure a victory.

Head-to-Head Record: Pakistan vs. India Looking at their overall One-Day International (ODI) history, Pakistan holds a lead in the head-to-head record. In 133 ODIs between these two rivals, Pakistan has emerged victorious 73 times, compared to India’s 55 wins. Over the past ten matches, India has won seven and lost two.

Toss Prediction The R Premadasa Stadium, where the clash will take place, has seen a total of 155 ODIs, with teams batting first winning 84 times, as opposed to 61 wins for the chasing teams. Therefore, it’s likely that the team winning the toss will opt to bat first in this encounter.

Win Probability On paper, India boasts a more well-rounded team with strengths in both batting and bowling. Considering the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, India enters as the favorites, with a win probability of 62%.

Historically, the average first innings score in ODI cricket at this venue stands at 232, while the figure drops to 191 for the second innings.

Pitch and Conditions RPS Colombo typically offers dry pitches that favor spinners. As the innings progress, batting becomes more challenging, as evident from the average score and win record.

Players to Keep an Eye On… Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

  • Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf

India Predicted Playing XI:

  • Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Key Players to Watch:

  • Hardik Pandya: The Indian all-rounder played a pivotal role in the last game against Pakistan, scoring 87 runs under challenging circumstances. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him vital for India’s success.
  • Shaheen Afridi: The fast left-arm pacer has consistently troubled Indian batters with his early swing. His performance, particularly in the previous clash at Pallekele, where he took 4 for 35, underscores his threat.

Asia Cup 2023 Predictions While both teams boast potent pace bowling attacks, the conditions in Colombo don’t particularly favor seamers, giving India the edge due to their superior spin duo. Our prediction leans towards India clinching the victory.

Our Pick: Back India at 1.60 to Win This One!

Pakistan vs. India Betting Tips In addition to betting on India to win the match, consider our recommendation for Pakistan’s top batsman.

Imam-ul-Haq, a solid opener who handles spin well, has accumulated over 2900 runs in ODI cricket at an impressive average of 51, including nine centuries and 18 half-centuries. Back Imam-ul-Haq at 4.25 to be Pakistan’s top scorer in the match!”