India's top 3 wicket-takers against Pakistan in ODI World Cups ft. Anil Kumble
Team India will square off against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. It will be the third match for both teams in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup.
India and Pakistan have got off to a flying start, with each winning both their games. While the Men in Blue thrashed Australia and Afghanistan, Babar Azam and company got the better of the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
With two wins from as many games, India and Pakistan are placed in third and fourth place in the points table, respectively. South Africa and New Zealand occupy the top two spots.
Thus, Saturday's blockbuster game holds great significance as both teams will want to end on the winning side and jump up in the points table.
These two sides have produced nerve-wreaking contests whenever they have met each other. Rohit Sharma and company currently hold the edge, winning all seven meetings in the history of the mega event.
On that note, let us take a look at India's top three wicket-takers against Pakistan in ODI World Cups.
#3 Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble is the only spinner among the top three Indian highest wicket-takers against Pakistan in ODI World Cup history. The former leg-spinner played three games against the Men in Green between the 1996 and 2003 World Cups.
Kumble picked up five wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 4.73. His best figures of 3/48 came in the 1996 World Cup at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Batting first, the Men in Blue posted a competitive total of 287/8 in their 50 overs. Kumble starred with the ball as India successfully defended the total, bowling tight lines and lengths and keeping the batters in check. He dismissed Saleem Malik, Mushtaq Ahmed, and Ata-ur-Rehman.
#2 Javagal Srinath
Former Indian pacer Javagal Srinath is one of India's finest fast bowlers to play the game. He represented the Men in Blue in 229 ODIs, picking up 315 wickets, including seven four-wicket hauls and three fifers.
Srinath featured in four World Cups in his career from 1992 to 2003, playing four matches against Pakistan and taking seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.
Srinath's best World Cup figures of 3/37 against the Men in Green that came in the 1999 ODI World Cup in Manchester. Riding on his three-wicket haul and Venkatesh Prasad's fifer, India bowled out Pakistan for 180 runs while defending 227 runs.
#1 Venkatesh Prasad
Venkatesh Prasad, the lanky fast bowler from Karnataka, is the highest wicket-taker among Indians against Pakistan in the World Cup. He has eight wickets under his belt from two matches at an economy rate of 3.69 and an average of nine, including a five-wicket haul.
Prasad's best figures of 5/27 came on a seaming Old Trafford wicket where Pakistan batters struggled big time. The right-arm pacer ran through Pakistan's middle and lower order to knock over them for 180 runs in 45.3 overs, helping the Men in Blue win the match by 47 runs.