"Shaheen Afridi against the Indian openers" - Ravi Shastri picks the key battle for the India-Pakistan 2023 World Cup match
Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri picked the battle between left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi and the Indian openers as the one to watch out for in the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in Ahmedabad.
While Afridi has dismissed Rohit Sharma twice in international cricket, including in the recent Asia Cup with the batter averaging only 18.50, the former has dismissed Shubman Gill once in their two meetings. Should Gill be unfit to participate in the marquee encounter, Ishan Kishan will open the batting.
In a conversation with the ICC ahead of the crunch game, Shastri spoke about the critical battle that could dictate the direction of the contest.
"Shaheen Afridi against the Indian openers. It's a given, that's going to be the test, the challenge. Whoever wins that will go a long way in dictating terms in the game," Shastri said.
Despite excellent overall ODI numbers with 88 wickets at an average of 24, Shaheen Afridi has struggled in the two matches of the ongoing World Cup. The 23-year-old has picked up only two scalps and traveled at an economy rate of almost 6.50 runs per over.
Ravi Shastri also felt India and Pakistan not playing each other regularly adds to the pressure and expectations of the contest but picked the hosts as the favorites.
"In our playing days, we used to play Pakistan quite regularly, doesn't happen so much now. So obviously the expectations are big and as a player, you look forward to the contest so the pressure will be there. But playing at home, just seeing Man for Man, India is a stronger side and they start off as favorites," Shastri added.
Despite the sides not playing in bilateral series since 2012-13, Team India have dominated Pakistan in recent meetings, winning their last four matches comprehensively.
The Men in Blue also hold a 7-0 lead in ODI World Cups against their arch-rivals, dating back to 1992.
"Sachin Tendulkar's uppercut against Shoaib Akhtar" - Ravi Shastri on his favorite India-Pakistan moment
Ravi Shastri picked Sachin Tendulkar's celebrated upper-cut against express pacer Shoaib Akhtar in the 2003 World Cup as his favorite moment in India-Pakistan matches.
Chasing a stiff target of 274 for victory, Tendulkar cut Akhtar over third man for a ferocious six off the second over to set the tone for the rest of the innings. The Little Master was severe on all the Pakistan bowlers, especially Akhtar, who finished with figures of 1/72 in his ten overs.
Tendulkar scored a magical 98 off only 75 deliveries as India romped home by six wickets with more than four overs to spare.
"Without a shadow of doubt, Sachin Tendulkar's upper cut against Shoaib Akhtar. A pressure match played at the Centurion, it's probably one of the finest innings I've seen Sachin play. I've seen most of his hundreds and he's got plenty of that but that innings under pressure, chasing a big score in a crucial contest was simply magnificent," Shastri said.
While the win was India's fifth in six group-stage matches, helping them qualify for the Super Sixes, it also eliminated Pakistan from contention for the subsequent stage.
The Men in Blue lost only one game to Australia on their path to the 2003 World Cup final before falling short against the same opponent in the summit clash. Tendulkar was the Player of the Tournament for scoring 673 runs (a record in a single World Cup), with a century and six half-centuries in 11 games.