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Welcome to Wisden’s live match centre for the highly-anticipated game of the T20 World Cup 2021 between India and Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai – follow this space for live updates from Wisden India editor Aadya Sharma at the venue – and also find out where to watch the match live, with TV channels and live streaming details.

To follow the India v Pakistan 2022 T20 World Cup game, follow this link to our live blog.

Summary: Rizwan, Babar dismantle India after Shaheen’s stellar spell

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Pakistan win! This loss won’t be easy to digest for India, having stacked up an enviable record in global competitions over the years. Pakistan were clinical, starting with Shaheen’s new-ball spell that gave nothing away, following it with tight spin bowling, and while India managed to get through to a decent total, Pakistan’s opening batters were immovable, cruising to the target with enough to spare.

Over 15: Pakistan 121-0 – On the cusp of a historic win

Babar has overtaken Rizwan in the run-scoring: such a crisp, dominant display from these two. The skipper has been so good in T20Is in 2021 – averaging over 40 with a strike-rate of over 130. India’s plans have been taken apart, they would really have to rethink their strategy with the new ball.

Over 10: Pakistan 71-0 – The game continues to slip away from India

Varun Chakravarthy is really important in the first six overs, but hasn’t been as threatening as he has shown to be in the past. He’s given easy runs on the pads, especially in the midwicket-long on region. It appeared that, during the drinks break, Kohli gestured at trapping the batters off a sweeping top edge, but with the kind of situation they are in, it would be unlikely that they’ll go for those strokes anyway.

Update: Personally, I feel the trio of Bhuvneshwar-Shami-Bumrah gets a tad defensive combination when defending a relatively smaller total, and when you need a couple of quick wickets to stay in the game. Easy to say, but in hindsight, starting with a spinner could have been a good way to attack from the get-go.

Over 6 – Pakistan in cruise control – how do India claw back in?

It’s been sensible, beautiful cricket from the opening batters – not a hint of jitters, complete clarity in their strokeplay. They’ve been really good at picking gaps – Rizwan’s half-pull, half-sweep off Shami was ridiculously well placed.

Update: Hardik Pandya is not on the field – he appeared to have injured his shoulder while running in the first innings. Ishan Kishan has taken his place.

Over 2: Pakistan 18-0 – Babar, Rizwan – so good to watch

We’re back, with Babar and Rizwan taking strike. Looks like they’re playing on a different surface. A couple of picturesque strokes from either batter, but believe me, Bumrah’s looking really good. Also, love the vibe around the whole stadium, cheering every good piece of play.

Inning update: 151 for India. It’s a pretty good score considering where they were at one point. Top, top effort from Pakistan in the first half, even though there were a few freebies in the second. This game could really go either way.

Stay tuned as we return in ten minutes with live updates from the other side.

Over 19: India 144-6- Shaheen returns to catch the big fish

For the first time in T20 World Cups, Virat Kohli is dismissed against Pakistan. It was a really good innings, but with Pandya new at the crease, he had to search for runs. Shaheen has been golden today – another reward for producing brilliant lines.

A fine run comes to an end.

Update: Kohli enjoys facing pace at the end – I felt Haris Rauf was a tad erratic today, giving Kohli the space to pick up pace after Pant. And with him in his groove, he took a liking to Hasan’s pace too. Should Babar have kept Shaheen back for one over at the death? Given how he bowled at the start, you had to give him the third over really.

Over 15: India 100-4 – Can Pakistan keep India under 150?

Kohli has done really well so far, keeping one end tight as Pant looked at avenues to accelerate. With the back-end of the innings here, India would ideally want one of Jadeja or Kohli to press on the gas. All in all, they’ve done really well to recover from where they were. At this juncture, I would have loved to see Hardik Pandya in the middle, but he’s not been his usual self in the recent past.

Update: Shadab Khan has been so good today – of late, there was mounting pressure on his bowling form (Divy Tripathi elaborates on it here), but he’s bowled controlled lines, forcing batters to create room on this track.

Over 10: India 60-3 – Kohli, Pant fight it out

He’s had his share of close calls, but Pant has done well to keep the pressure off Kohli and let India rebuild. Babar has done really well with his bowling changes, pressing on with the spin attack when the quicks had done the early damage. And now, there’s Haris Rauf’s bustling pace to break this stand. Can he?

Over 8: India 43-3 – Can India’s middle order stand up?

What does a player like Rishabh Pant do now? He’s naturally attacking, he’s in in the seventh over (which means he’s got more time than he usually gets), and Virat Kohli is looking really good at the other end. He’s already tried a wild reverse-sweep against Hafeez – some shot to play when your team is three down at 40. But then, it’s Pant.

Update: Scratch that, Pakistan have another!

You thought Suryakumar was looking solid, choosing his battles well, but he’s tempted by a wide-ish delivery from Hasan Ali, and goes for it. Alas, it’s turning out to be painfully similar to other top-order collapses of the past for India. Kohli is still around though.

Over 5: India 30-2 – It’s rebuilding time for Kohli-Surya

Kohli ends Shaheen’s third over with a crunching six over long-on, quite a stroke given the pressure and the form Shaheen looks in. Both Suryakumar and Kohli are playing at a decent rate, not allowing the run-rate to drop drastically. Pakistan, on the other hand, have been really sharp, both with the ball and on the field.

Over 2.1: India 6-2 –  Shaheen Afridi, you beauty – part two!

And here we are – another left-arm quick tearing open India’s top-order in an ICC tournament. Sounds familiar? Shaheen Afridi has been sensational this evening – after sending back Rohit, he fires one through KL Rahul. (Fire emoji, fire emoji)

0.4: India 1-1 – Shaheen Afridi, you beauty!

Unplayable. Rohit Sharma had nowhere to go. I said it earlier, it’s the clash I was most looking forward to, with Shaheen Afridi shaping it in, catching Rohit Sharma plumb in front. Really, Rohit did well there to save his toe.

The anthems are done. Literal goosebumps. The entire crowd cheered in unison after the end of both anthems. The Pakistan team is huddled up, and out come the two Indian batters, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Before the action, the Indian players take the knee.

Toss update: Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are by the side of the pitch. Pakistan win the toss and opt to field first.

T20 World Cup, Live updates: No R Ashwin for India, Haider Ali sits out for Pakistan

Hmm, no R Ashwin for India – one would have been tempted to bring in some experience for a clash as big as this one, but Varun Chakravarthy has really done no wrong in the lead up to this tournament. One match-up that I am really looking forward to is Rohit Sharma versus Shaheen Afridi. The left-armer’s angle will be something of a test for the opener.

India XI: Rohit, Rahul, Kohli, Suryakumar, Pant, Pandya, Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Varun CV

Pakistan XI: Babar, Rizwan, Zaman, Hafeez, Malik, Asif, Imad, Shadab, Hasan, Afridi, Rauf

5:15pm local time: Exactly 15 minutes to go for the toss, and the Indian team has formed their first huddle of the day. On the other side, Pakistan’s players go through their paces: an assortment of bowling, fielding practice and some warm-up football.

After trying out a bit of bowling, Dhoni is now sending down throws for some catching practice for Rishabh Pant.

Venue: Dubai International Stadium

4.45pm local time: The Indian team has reached the ground ahead of the toss, with the Pakistan players already at the venue warming up. A small crowd had gathered around the team bus, enthusiastically welcoming their stars in.

As expected, the biggest cheer was reserved for Virat Kohli. There’s another round of cheer as he walks into the ground, a shiny bat in hand, acknowledging the response as he finds his spot on one side of the ground.

4.15pm local time: A warm welcome to everyone’s who’s reached here to follow live action from the Dubai International Stadium. We are hours away from arguably the grandest clash of the Super 12 stages – India v Pakistan. You can follow real-time updates of all the happenings from the stadium right here. The toss will take place in an hour and 15 minutes from now.

The two teams face each other for the first time in any format since the 2019 50-over World Cup, with India winning that fixture.

Date: October 24, 2021

Start Time: 6pm (local time)

T20 World Cup 2021, India v Pakistan: Preview

Both teams have won the T20 World Cup trophy: India clinched the inaugural title in 2007, and Pakistan claimed the crown two years later. Led by Virat Kohli, who will step down from T20I captaincy after the ICC tournament, India won both their warm-up games against England and Australia prior to the event.

Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, won their first warm-up match against West Indies, but went down to South Africa in the next clash.

T20 World Cup 2021 Schedule: Find the full list of fixtures, start times and venues here.

Ind vs Pak: Team news, injury updates and predicted XI

India

Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun CV

T20 World Cup 2021 India squad: Full team list for Ind 

Pakistan

Predicted XI: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

T20 World Cup 2021 Pakistan squad: Full team list for Pak

T20 World Cup 2021 India v Pakistan: Where to watch live

TV channels and live streaming options

India: TV and live streaming

Star Sports Network – Star Sports 1 (and HD), Star Sports 2 (and HD), SS 1 Hindi (and HD), SS 1 Tamil, SS 1 Telugu and SS 1 Kannada; Live streaming: Disney+ Hotstar app.

UK & Ireland: TV and live streaming

Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix; Streaming: Sky Sports app, www.skysports.com

Pakistan: TV and live streaming

PTV Sports

The complete list of broadcast (TV and live streaming) options for the tournament can be found here.

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