2023 World Cup: Predicting 3 players who could score the most runs in today's India vs Pakistan match ft. Virat Kohli
The 2023 World Cup has witnessed 11 matches to date. The biggest blockbuster game of the mega tournament will be played today, i.e., on October 14, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The stadium has a capacity of 1,32,000, and with all tickets for today's game being sold in a jiffy, one can expect an electrifying atmosphere during the clash.
The arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, will lock horns for the eighth time in the history of World Cup cricket. The Men in Blue have won all seven of their previous encounters against Pakistan and will look to continue their winning run.
As far as the 2023 World Cup is concerned, both India and Pakistan have won two matches apiece and are placed third and fourth, respectively, on the points table. While India got the better of Australia and Afghanistan, Pakistan beat the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad.
On that note, here is a prediction as to the three players who could score the most runs in today's epic encounter.
#1 Virat Kohli
The former Indian skipper has been in good touch during the 2023 World Cup, having scored 140 runs in two innings at an average of 140. He has scored half-centuries against Australia and Afghanistan and will be up for the challenge of facing a strong Pakistan bowling attack.
Kohli has an impressive track record against Pakistan in ODIs. In 15 innings, he has scored 662 runs at an average of 55.17 with three centuries and two half-centuries.
The numbers get better against the arch-rivals in World Cup cricket, and King Kohli has scored 193 runs in three innings against them, including a brilliant century (107) at the Adelaide Oval in 2015 and 77 at Old Trafford in 2019.
Considering Kohli's past impressive record against Pakistan and current batting form, it will not be a surprise if Kohli once again tops the chart for most runs scored in today's epic contest.
#2 Mohammad Rizwan
The keeper-batsman has been in terrific batting form in the 2023 World Cup. Batting at number four, Rizwan in both matches has been a savior for his team after the fall of two early wickets.
In the game against the Netherlands, Rizwan was in early when his team lost two wickets with just 34 runs on board. Thereafter, the team was in further trouble, losing another wicket with just 38 runs scored.
Rizwan (68) and Saud Shakeel (68) added 120 runs for the fourth wicket and guided Pakistan to a match-winning total.
Pakistan were chasing 345 against Sri Lanka in their second game of the 2023 World Cup. Rizwan once again rose to the occasion, battled cramps to score an unbeaten century (131), and guided his team to the highest-ever chase in the history of the quadrennial competition.
Rizwan has scored 199 runs in the last two matches of the ongoing tournament at an average of 199 and is the man in form for Pakistan.
#3 Rohit Sharma
The Indian skipper single-handedly demolished the Afghanistan bowling attack and guided his team to a comprehensive win.
After failing to open his account against Australia, Sharma played a brilliant attacking knock against a hapless Afghan bowling lineup and scored 131 runs from just 84 balls, including five maximums and sixteen boundaries.
The Indian opener averages 49.19 against Pakistan in 18 World Cup innings, including two centuries and seven half-centuries. His knock of 140 from 113 balls against Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup at Old Trafford is his best innings against the arch-rivals in ODI cricket to date.
Sharma loves batting against Pakistan, and if he gets in, one can expect another attacking century for the Indian skipper in Ahmedabad today.