India put Pakistan to bat first after winning the toss in the high-octane World Cup match

India opted to ball first against Pakistan after winning the toss in the high-octane World Cup clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue on Saturday.

• Pakistan was 23-0 against India after 4 overs by the time of filing this report.
• Shubman Gill is back for India

Today’s match is a monumental event as Babar Azam XI seeks to end the most talked about jinx in World Cup history.

Favourites India goes on the field unbeaten with victories over five-time winners Australia and Afghanistan.

Pakistan, also after winning their two matches against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, went to bat unchanged from their previous win.

Pakistan team captain Babar Azam after the toss said: “We were looking to field as well. We have had a good two wins. Momentum is very high and we want to continue that. Jampacked stadium, we are enjoying our opportunity, and just want to enjoy. We have to be good in the field. We have had good practice sessions. Same team.”

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said: “It is a dream for us, and all of us are going to experience it is. It is not going to change much, dew will also be a factor so we want to chase. We want to keep striving for the best, and come out and play every day.

“We want to start well and play well, and do our best. It’s the most important factor, keeping yourself relaxed, keeping the atmosphere relaxed. Gill is back in place of Ishan. Feel for Ishan. He has stepped up, but Gill has been a superb player for us.”

Playing XI:

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj