Picking the combined India-Pakistan 11 ahead of 2023 World Cup clash ft. Virat Kohli and Mohammad Rizwan

Team India will take on Pakistan in the much-awaited marquee clash of the 2023 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 14. Both sides last met in the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup. The Men in Blue came up with a dominant display to hammer Pakistan by 228 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Looking at their form in the ongoing World Cup, both India and Pakistan have played two and won two. The Men in Blue began their campaign with a six-wicket triumph over Australia in Chennai. In a dominant display, they held Australia to 199 and then chased down the target in clinical fashion after a disastrous start. They were proficient in their win over Afghanistan as well.

Pakistan overcame a nervous start to register an 81-run win over Netherlands in Hyderabad. They then chased down 345 at the same venue against Sri Lanka - a record for the highest successful chase in the men’s ODI World Cup.

Ahead of the marquee clash in Ahmedabad, we pick an India-Pakistan combined XI.

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Openers: Rohit Sharma (captain) and Abdullah Shafique

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma (Pic: AP)

Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique would open the batting for the combined XI. Rohit was dismissed without scoring against Australia, but hit a superb ton against Afghanistan, breaking numerous records in the process. The Indian captain hammered 131 off 84 balls, smashing 16 fours and five sixes.

Under normal circumstances, Shubman Gill would have walked into the combined playing XI. However, he missed India’s first two matches due to illness and is uncertain to feature in the high-voltage clash against Pakistan as well.

As such, Abdullah Shafique, who scored 113 off 103 balls against Sri Lanka, would open with Rohit.

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Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk)

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (Pic: AP)

Experienced Indian batter Virat Kohli would occupy the crucial No. 3 slot in the combined XI. He is one of the greatest one-down batters in the history of ODI cricket. The 34-year-old has been in good form in the ongoing World Cup, registering scores of 85 and 55*.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has not had a good start to the World Cup. He was dismissed for 5 against Netherlands and 10 versus Sri Lanka. However, given the kind of record that he possesses, he deserves to find a place in the India-Pakistan combined XI.

There was a close tussle between keeper-batter KL Rahul and Mohammad Rizwan for the No. 5 slot in the combined India-Pakistan XI. While Rahul scored 97* against Australia, he did not get to bat against Afghanistan. The slot went to Rizwan, who scored a crucial 68 against the Dutch and a superb 131* in a record chase against the Lankans.

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All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja celebrates a wicket against Australia. (Pic: AP)

With Shadab Khan struggling to make an impact, India’s duo of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja find a place in the team. Pandya has claimed three wickets so far and scored an unbeaten 11 against Australia.

Jadeja starred with 3/28 in 10 overs against Australia to throttle the opposition. He can be extremely lethal on spinning surfaces in India.

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Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf

Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi (left) and Haris Rauf (Pic: AP)

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav would be the main slow bowler in the India-Pakistan combined XI. Kuldeep has been in superb form in 2023 and claimed two key wickets against the Aussies. He also chipped in with one scalp against Afghanistan.

Jasprit Bumrah walks into the playing XI without any doubt. He has been impressive since his international comeback and has carried his good form into the World Cup as well. Bumrah picked up 2/35 against Australia and 4/39 versus Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s lethal fast bowling pair of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf would complete the combined playing XI. Left-arm pacer Afridi has made an underwhelming start to his World Cup campaign, but it seems only a matter of time before he comes good.

Rauf has been among the wickets. He picked up three against Netherlands and two versus Sri Lanka.