India vs Pakistan: Five players who can win Player of the Match award

The 20-20 World Cup is set to get underway on October 16 and the cricketing world is all set to witness the event unfold in Australia. However, the blockbuster match of the showpiece event would take place between India and Pakistan on October 23. 

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Much to the joy of cricket fans, the high-voltage clash will take place at Melbourne Cricket Ground which will make it an even better spectacle. All said and done, the two teams have pretty strong squads and the Indian team looks extremely strong in the batting department. However, in the case of bowling, it is the Men in Green who have the upper hand. 

Let us take a look at five players who can bag the Player of the Match award in the clash:

1) Babar Azam

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Babar Azam (Image Source: Twitter)

The Pakistan skipper is in stupendous form and looks all set to take on the Indian pace battery. Albeit the batter failed to play an impactful inning in the Asia Cup, the skipper managed to bag a century to his name in the recently concluded England series. 

Azam can clinch the Player of the Match award in the clash if he manages to carry on with the momentum. With regard to his recent knock, the skipper scored 55 off 40 balls against Bangladesh in the tri-series in New Zealand on October 13, Monday.

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2) Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav (Image Source: Twitter)

The Indian batter is in roaring form and batting at a strike rate of 184.56 in T20Is this year. Suryakumar proved his prowess in the continental tournament and also in the T20I series against Australia and South Africa. 

In addition to that, the right-hand batter scored 52 runs in the practice match against Western Australia on Monday and helped team India put on a decent total of 158 runs. He is a serious contender to clinch the award if he manages to notch one of his best knocks ever.

3) Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan (Image Source: Twitter)

Mohammad Rizwan looks rock-solid as an opener and the teams are struggling to get him out upfront. The player has gathered 787 runs at an average of 56.21 in T20Is this year. Albeit his strike rate can come as a concern for the team, the wicketkeeper has all it takes to take Pakistan home. 

The last time the Men in Green played against India in the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup in September, Rizwan scored 71 runs off 51 balls and helped Pakistan chase down the target. No surprise the batter can win the Player of the Match award on October 23.

4) Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya (Image Source: Twitter)

Hardik Pandya is one of India’s finest all-rounders at the moment and his recent form with the ball has proved to be helpful for team India. The all-rounder helped the Men in Blue chase down the target of 148 in the final over against Pakistan in the group stage of the Asia Cup. 

Pandya scored an unbeaten 33 and also bagged a three-for to his name with the ball as well. The all-rounder might prove his prowess yet again in the upcoming high-octane clash to be played in MCG.

5) Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi (Image Source: Twitter)

As per reports, the fiery Pakistan pacer is likely to play against India and aiming to announce his comeback in style. For the unversed, the pacer was ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022 due to injury and underwent rehabilitation in London. 

Afridi has a stupendous record in T20Is but he has picked up only 2 wickets in the year so far. Having said that, the talismanic speedster can rattle the Indian top order and could be game changer for Pakistan yet again against India. There is no denying that he is a serious contender for the Player of the Match award.