India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 Preview: Team India train at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ahead of Pak clash

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 Preview: Team India had their first training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on Friday ahead of Sunday's big clash with Pakistan and began training straight away.

Also, there's been a tussle for the 'finisher' role in the Rohit Sharma-led side. And it remains to be seen who among wicket-keeper batsmen Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant will play against Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday. However, with both wicketkeeper-batters vying for a spot in the India playing 11, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar thinks there is a way they can both be accomodated. Read on to find out:

Ind vs Pak: Team India's first training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ahead of T20 World Cup opener match against Pakistan

We're here at the MCG for our first training session ahead of #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/S7QRQ8G21K

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2022

Ind vs Pak: BCCI shared a video of Team India's arrival in Melbourne ahead of India and Pakistan's T20 World Cup opener match

Perth
Brisbane
Preparations

We are now in Melbourne for our first game! #TeamIndia #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/SRhKYEnCdn

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2022

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022: Upon arrival in Melbourne, Team India were greeted by avid fans and 'Bharat Army' - the travelling group of Indian cricket fans. 

A warm Bharat Army welcome for @ImRo45 and the rest of #TeamIndia

Best of luck lads, we will be with you all the way! #BharatArmy #TeamIndia #IndianCricket #T20WorldCup #India #Rohit #COTI @BCCI @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/HMJrhT0fw2

— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) October 20, 2022

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022: Skipper Rohit Sharma on leading Team India into a World Cup for the first time, and the approach ahead of the crucial clash.

From leading India for the first time in ICC World Cup to the team's approach in the #T20WorldCup !

In conversation with #TeamIndia captain @ImRo45!

Full interview https://t.co/e2mbadvCnU pic.twitter.com/fKONFhKdga

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2022

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022: Rishabh Pant's high praise for teammate and former skipper Virat Kohli 

Talented keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was all praise for his Team India senior Virat Kohli, and said his immense experience helps other team members in dealing with pressure situation. Ahead of Sunday's India versus Pakistan T20 World Cup game, Pant said that Kohli's way of dealing with situations, can help others in their cricket journey going forward. "It is nice batting with him as always," Pant was quoted as saying by the T20 World Cup site.

"It's good to have someone with a lot of experience batting with you because he can take you through how to take the game on and how to maintain that run-a-ball pressure kind of thing," Pant added.

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022: Hardik Pandya on injuries and fitness

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said he spent a considerable amount of time on his fitness over the last 18 months after recurring injuries stopped him from bowling.

Pandya is now bowling regularly for India, and attributed this not just to his focus on being back to his best but also to the positivity and focus he has felt because of those around him.

Mission #T20WorldCup

All-rounder @hardikpandya7 discusses it all as #TeamIndia gear up for the marquee event - By @RajalArora

Full interview https://t.co/Kl71g3ILJ8 pic.twitter.com/rcyNcpL4B4

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2022

Pandya told agencies: "It has to do a lot with helping myself to go back to the basics and approaching everything on a positive note. Because of that I have got peace in my life looking at the brighter side always. I know I will have good days and bad days but the positivity comes from the hard work that I put in, which then gives me the self-belief and confidence to give it everything. And with the support of my family to always have my back, I feel a sense of complete focus and positivity around me."

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022: Minister Anurag Thakur says home ministry to decide on India's participation in Asia Cup in Pak  

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that the home ministry will take a call on the Indian cricket team's travel to Pakistan after controversy eruupted over India's refusal to play in Asia Cup 2023 in Pak. Thakur said he feels chances of the Indian team going across the border to Pakistan "aren't much".

However, the sports minister is expecting that Pakistan team will come to India to compete in the 50-over World Cup next year, saying "all are welcome".

"All teams who qualify for (World Cup) are invited (to compete on the Indian soil). Many times Pakistan teams have come to India and played. I feel India is not in a position to be dictated (by someone) and there is no reason for anyone to do that. I expect all countries to come and compete," Thakur told PTI when asked about the controversy that erupted after Jay Shah's statement.

This comes after a war of words began between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Board of Contol for Cricket in India after BCCI secretary and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Jay Shah commented that Indian team will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023 and they would like to compete in the tournament at a neutral venue.

#AsiaCup2023 के लिए #Pakistan जाना बोर्ड का फैसला नहीं, सरकार करेगी फैसला: #BCCI प्रमुख #RogerBinny pic.twitter.com/cfgu2doMK2

— Zee Business (@ZeeBusiness) October 20, 2022

Ind vs Pak: Sunil Gavaskar's formula to include both wicketkeeper-batsmen Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik in the Indian playing 11

Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar shared how he feels both wicketkeeper-batsmen Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik could play the India vs Pakistan match without upsetting the team combination. 

Gavaskar said that if India play with allrounder Hardik Pandya as the fifth bowler — then Rishabh Pant could play and bat at number six and Karthik could play as number seven batter, followed by the four bowlers in the Super 12 opening clash against Pakistan on Sunday.

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Schedule, Timings, Teams, Groups, Fixtures, Dates, Format, How to watch, Live Streaming - all you need to know

India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 Match: Team India's Warm Up Matches so far

India vs Western Australia Warm Up Match 1: India beat Western Australia by 13 runs in their first warm-up match before the T20 World Cup 2022. 
Also Read: Western Australia XI vs India T20 WC Warm Up Match: Suryakumar Yadav shines as India beat Western Australia by 13 runs — As it happened

India vs Western Australia Warm Up Match 2: India were comprehensively beaten by 36 runs as the Indian batting, barring stand-in skipper KL Rahul 74 (55), collapsed when they played Western Australia Cricket Association XI in the second practice match in Perth on Thursday.
Also Read: India vs Western Australia XI 2nd Warm Up Match Highlights: KL Rahul's 74 in vain as India stunned in IND vs WA Practice Game

India vs Australia Warm Up Match: In India's third warm up match, Mohammad Shami made a stunning comeback from injury India pulled off a 6-run win over Australia in Brisbane on Monday.
Also Read: IND vs AUS Warm Up Match Highlights: Mohd Shami sizzles in 4-wicket over as India edge out Australia in practice game 

India vs New Zealand Warm Up Match: While India's final warm-up match vs new Zealand at The Gabba in Brisbane was abandoned due to rains, Pakistan's clash against Afghanistan was called off midway due to the downpour.
Also Read: NZ vs IND T20 World Cup Warm up Match LIVE: India vs New Zealand abandoned due to rain at Gabba, Brisbane 

India vs Pakistan: Here are the squads that will play the IND v PAK Super 12 match

ICC World Cup 2022 INDIA Squad: Rohit Sharma,Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav

Reserves: Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd Siraj, Shreyas Iyer

Also Read: Indian Cricket team T20 world cup squad: Check full schedule, standby players, match timings and more

ICC World Cup 2022 Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir

Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2022 - Pakistan full squad and match schedule: Winners or chokers - which Pak side will turn up in Australia?