The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced with the qualifiers and the warm-up encounters being held simultaneously. While India are finalising their team combination in the practice games, all eyes are on their tournament-opener in the main draw of the showpiece event, versus Pakistan, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Both India and Pakistan will play their first game in the ICC event against each other as the stage is set for a blockbuster face-off. For the unversed, the arch-rivals meet each other only during ICC or multi-nation tournaments and not in bilateral series, due to the political tension between the two neighbouring countries.&nbsp;

Hence, whenever India-Pakistan meet in World Cups, it becomes a grand encounter as many cricket lovers remain glued to the television sets whereas a plethora of the gentlemen's game's lovers turn up inthe stadium. Ahead of the Indo-Pak tie, a fan asked Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi for the upcoming match's tickets (by asking him to check his pockets). To this, Afridi responded in a hilarious manner. Here's how it all panned out:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-shahid-afridi-issues-stern-warning-says-pakistan-can-surprise-anyone-rule-them-out-at-own-peril-422118">T20 WC: Shahid Afridi issues stern warning, says 'Pakistan can surprise anyone, rule them out at own peril'</a>

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-pakistani-internet-sensation-returns-with-a-hilarious-video-as-indo-pak-clash-nears-watch-422058">T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH</a>

India lead Pakistan 5-0 in the T20 WC history. They have never lost in any World Cup (ODIs and T20Is) versus the Men in Green. However, Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue won't take Babar Azam &amp; Co. lightly as they remain one of the top three sides in ICC T20I rankings.&nbsp;

India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B along with New Zealand and Afghanistan whereas Australia, South Africa, England and West Indies find themselves in Pool A. Two teams, each, will join both the groups from the qualifiers.

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The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced with the qualifiers and the warm-up encounters being held simultaneously. While India are finalising their team combination in the practice games, all eyes are on their tournament-opener in the main draw of the showpiece event, versus Pakistan, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced with the qualifiers and the warm-up encounters being held simultaneously. While India are finalising their team combination in the practice games, all eyes are on their tournament-opener in the main draw of the showpiece event, versus Pakistan, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Both India and Pakistan will play their first game in the ICC event against each other as the stage is set for a blockbuster face-off. For the unversed, the arch-rivals meet each other only during ICC or multi-nation tournaments and not in bilateral series, due to the political tension between the two neighbouring countries. Hence, whenever India-Pakistan meet in World Cups, it becomes a grand encounter as many cricket lovers remain glued to the television sets whereas a plethora of the gentlemen's game's lovers turn up inthe stadium. Ahead of the Indo-Pak tie, a fan asked Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi for the upcoming match's tickets (by asking him to check his pockets). To this, Afridi responded in a hilarious manner. Here's how it all panned out: ALSO READ | T20 WC: Shahid Afridi issues stern warning, says 'Pakistan can surprise anyone, rule them out at own peril' When a fan asked Shaheen “ India Pakistan match ki tickets han ap k pass” Shaheen checking his pocket #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/jf9nLtRDdC — Asad Abdullah (@asad_qureshi257) October 19, 2021 × ALSO READ | T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH India lead Pakistan 5-0 in the T20 WC history. They have never lost in any World Cup (ODIs and T20Is) versus the Men in Green. However, Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue won't take Babar Azam & Co. lightly as they remain one of the top three sides in ICC T20I rankings. India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B along with New Zealand and Afghanistan whereas Australia, South Africa, England and West Indies find themselves in Pool A. Two teams, each, will join both the groups from the qualifiers.

T20 WC: Fan asks Shaheen Afridi for Indo-Pak match tickets, pacer responds in hilarious manner - Watch

India will take on Aaron Finch-led Australia in their second and final warm-up encounter before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 kicks off, in the UAE. This will also be the last chance for Finch &amp; Co. to eradicate their flaws and finalise their team combination prior to the mega event.&nbsp;

Talking about the Men in Blue, the Virat Kohli-led side thrashed England by 7 wickets in their first warm-up encounter, at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai on Monday evening (October 18). Opting to bowl first, India managed to keep England below the 200-run mark on a batting surface as the 2016 runners-up and one-time champions posted 188-5. In reply, India completed the run-chase with an over to spare, courtesy KL Rahul's 24-ball 51, Ishan Kishan's 46-ball 70* (retired hurt) and Rishabh Pant's 14-ball 29*.&nbsp;

There were plenty of positives for India as Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin were impressive with the ball whereas Mohammed Shami conceded 40 runs but also picked up three scalps. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rahul Chahar went for plenty, which is a cause of concern.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-ind-vs-aus-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-india-vs-australia-warm-up-match-422246">T20 World Cup, IND vs AUS live streaming: When and where to watch India vs Australia warm-up match?</a>

In the batting department, Rahul-Ishan made heads turn with their free-flowing approach whereas India will like Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya to get some more time in the middle. Rohit Sharma is also expected to play versus Australia.&nbsp;

For Australia, their batters such as Finch, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, etc. got starts -- in their narrow win over New Zealand by 3 wickets -- but David Warner's woeful form remains a huge concern. In the bowling department, the likes of Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson did a reasonable job and Mitchell Starc was economical. The onus will be on Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell in their last warm-up game.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-shahid-afridi-issues-stern-warning-says-pakistan-can-surprise-anyone-rule-them-out-at-own-peril-422118">T20 WC: Shahid Afridi issues stern warning, says 'Pakistan can surprise anyone, rule them out at own peril'</a>

Match prediction for IND vs AUS warm-up game: As a lot will depend on how both sides use their players in the XI, it is tough to predict a winner. However, India are ahead of Australia in terms of their power-hitting and, hence, will start as favourites. Expect a 170-plus game with the chasing side to emerge on top.

India will take on Aaron Finch-led Australia in their second and final warm-up encounter before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 kicks off, in the UAE. This will also be the last chance for Finch & Co.

India will take on Aaron Finch-led Australia in their second and final warm-up encounter before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 kicks off, in the UAE. This will also be the last chance for Finch & Co. to eradicate their flaws and finalise their team combination prior to the mega event. Talking about the Men in Blue, the Virat Kohli-led side thrashed England by 7 wickets in their first warm-up encounter, at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai on Monday evening (October 18). Opting to bowl first, India managed to keep England below the 200-run mark on a batting surface as the 2016 runners-up and one-time champions posted 188-5. In reply, India completed the run-chase with an over to spare, courtesy KL Rahul's 24-ball 51, Ishan Kishan's 46-ball 70* (retired hurt) and Rishabh Pant's 14-ball 29*. There were plenty of positives for India as Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin were impressive with the ball whereas Mohammed Shami conceded 40 runs but also picked up three scalps. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rahul Chahar went for plenty, which is a cause of concern. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup, IND vs AUS live streaming: When and where to watch India vs Australia warm-up match? In the batting department, Rahul-Ishan made heads turn with their free-flowing approach whereas India will like Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya to get some more time in the middle. Rohit Sharma is also expected to play versus Australia. For Australia, their batters such as Finch, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, etc. got starts -- in their narrow win over New Zealand by 3 wickets -- but David Warner's woeful form remains a huge concern. In the bowling department, the likes of Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson did a reasonable job and Mitchell Starc was economical. The onus will be on Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell in their last warm-up game. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Shahid Afridi issues stern warning, says 'Pakistan can surprise anyone, rule them out at own peril' Match prediction for IND vs AUS warm-up game: As a lot will depend on how both sides use their players in the XI, it is tough to predict a winner. However, India are ahead of Australia in terms of their power-hitting and, hence, will start as favourites. Expect a 170-plus game with the chasing side to emerge on top.

IND vs AUS, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and Australia?

Team India thrashed England by seven wickets in their first warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Monday (October 18) to find some momentum ahead of the start of their campaign in the showpiece event. India comfortably chased down the target of 189 runs with the help of half-centuries from KL Rahul (51) and Ishan Kishan (70) to bag a comprehensive win.

With Kishan doing well as an opener ahead of the start of India's campaign, the left-hander might pose some selection headaches for captain Virat Kohli and the team management. However, Kohli on Monday confirmed that Rahul will open the batting for the Men in Blue alongside senior opener Rohit Sharma. Opening up on the team's opening combination ahead of the start of their campaign in the tournament, Kohli said it was difficult to look beyond Rahul at present.

"Things were different before IPL, now it's difficult to look beyond KL Rahul. He's been solid upfront. I will be batting at 3. That's the only thing I can say for now," said Kohli during toss ahead of the warm-up game against England.

Talking about the warm-up game between India and England, the Jos Buttler-led side posted a strong total of 188 runs batting first at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai with the help of Jonny Bairstow's 49 off 36 balls and Moeen Ali's quickfire 20-ball 43.

In reply, India were off to a flyer as Rahul and Kishan shared an 82-run stand for the first wicket and set the stage for a comprehensive win for the Men in Blue. While Rahul dashed his way to 51 off just 24 balls, Kishan too went all guns blazing in his 46-ball 70 laced with seven fours and three sixes.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/advantage-india-or-pakistan-former-pak-all-rounder-makes-big-claim-ahead-of-t20-wc-face-off-421898">Advantage India or Pakistan? Former Pak all-rounder makes BIG claim ahead of T20 WC face-off</a>

Rishabh Pant then cracked an unbeaten 29 off just 14 balls and combined with Hardik Pandya (10) to take India over the line comfortably in the run-chase. India will now take on Australia in their second warm-up match on October 20 before opening their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against Pakistan on October 24.

Team India thrashed England by seven wickets in their first warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Monday (October 18) to find some momentum ahead of the start of their campaign in the showpiece event.

Team India thrashed England by seven wickets in their first warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Monday (October 18) to find some momentum ahead of the start of their campaign in the showpiece event. India comfortably chased down the target of 189 runs with the help of half-centuries from KL Rahul (51) and Ishan Kishan (70) to bag a comprehensive win. With Kishan doing well as an opener ahead of the start of India's campaign, the left-hander might pose some selection headaches for captain Virat Kohli and the team management. However, Kohli on Monday confirmed that Rahul will open the batting for the Men in Blue alongside senior opener Rohit Sharma. Opening up on the team's opening combination ahead of the start of their campaign in the tournament, Kohli said it was difficult to look beyond Rahul at present. "Things were different before IPL, now it's difficult to look beyond KL Rahul. He's been solid upfront. I will be batting at 3. That's the only thing I can say for now," said Kohli during toss ahead of the warm-up game against England. Talking about the warm-up game between India and England, the Jos Buttler-led side posted a strong total of 188 runs batting first at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai with the help of Jonny Bairstow's 49 off 36 balls and Moeen Ali's quickfire 20-ball 43. In reply, India were off to a flyer as Rahul and Kishan shared an 82-run stand for the first wicket and set the stage for a comprehensive win for the Men in Blue. While Rahul dashed his way to 51 off just 24 balls, Kishan too went all guns blazing in his 46-ball 70 laced with seven fours and three sixes. Also Read: Advantage India or Pakistan? Former Pak all-rounder makes BIG claim ahead of T20 WC face-off Rishabh Pant then cracked an unbeaten 29 off just 14 balls and combined with Hardik Pandya (10) to take India over the line comfortably in the run-chase. India will now take on Australia in their second warm-up match on October 20 before opening their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against Pakistan on October 24.

No Ishan Kishan? Virat Kohli reveals India's opening combination for T20 World Cup 2021

The whole cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the India-Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup 2021. Both cricketing giants only meet during multi-nation or ICC events due to the political tension between the arch-rivals. However, whenever both sides lock horns in a big-ticket tournament, it leads to heads being turned all around the cricketing spectrum as many watch the proceedings, from various parts of the globe.

Virat Kohli-led India are set to meet Babar Azam's Pakistan in both sides' tournament-opener, in the main draw of the showpiece event, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar poked fun at India's veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) off-spinner had the last laugh with his reply. It all started when Akhtar shared a picture with Bhajji and hilariously trolled him. To this, the Indian also came back with a witty reply.

Here's how it all panned out between the two legendary cricketers:

<img alt="Harbhajan, Akhtar banter before Indo-Pak T20 WC clash" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a7f7ba2-3b15-44d6-abf0-1b8862ccdac1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Bhajji_Akhtar%20tweets.jpeg" />

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-pakistani-internet-sensation-returns-with-a-hilarious-video-as-indo-pak-clash-nears-watch-422058">T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH</a>

India and Pakistan last met during the 2019 ODI World Cup group stage encounter, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Back then, the Kohli-led Men in Blue thrashed Pakistan by 89 runs (DLS method). On the other hand, India had also beaten Pakistan by 6 wickets in their 2016 T20 WC face-off, held at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata.&nbsp;

India lead Pakistan 5-0 in T20 WC history and will be eager to maintain their flawless record versus the arch-rivals. However, Babar-led Pakistan won't be an easy opposition for the Indian team by any means. Both sides are placed in Pool B, along with New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams who will join them from the qualifiers.

The whole cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the India-Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup 2021. Both cricketing giants only meet during multi-nation or ICC events due to the political tension between the arch-rivals.

The whole cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the commencement of the India-Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup 2021. Both cricketing giants only meet during multi-nation or ICC events due to the political tension between the arch-rivals. However, whenever both sides lock horns in a big-ticket tournament, it leads to heads being turned all around the cricketing spectrum as many watch the proceedings, from various parts of the globe. Virat Kohli-led India are set to meet Babar Azam's Pakistan in both sides' tournament-opener, in the main draw of the showpiece event, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar poked fun at India's veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) off-spinner had the last laugh with his reply. It all started when Akhtar shared a picture with Bhajji and hilariously trolled him. To this, the Indian also came back with a witty reply. Here's how it all panned out between the two legendary cricketers: ALSO READ | T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH India and Pakistan last met during the 2019 ODI World Cup group stage encounter, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Back then, the Kohli-led Men in Blue thrashed Pakistan by 89 runs (DLS method). On the other hand, India had also beaten Pakistan by 6 wickets in their 2016 T20 WC face-off, held at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. India lead Pakistan 5-0 in T20 WC history and will be eager to maintain their flawless record versus the arch-rivals. However, Babar-led Pakistan won't be an easy opposition for the Indian team by any means. Both sides are placed in Pool B, along with New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams who will join them from the qualifiers.

'When you've 400+ Test wickets...': Harbhajan Singh trolls Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India-Pakistan clash

There's never a dull moment when Rishabh Pant is standing behind the stumps, whether for Team India or the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL. After taking DC to the playoffs in IPL 2021, the swashbuckling left-hander resumed his services as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Virat Kohli-led India in their first warm-up encounter, versus England, in the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE, on Monday evening (October 18).

As expected, Pant left everyone in splits with his commentary from behind the stumps. When R Ashwin came onto bowl the 11th over of England's innings, after India opted to bowl first at ICC Academy Ground, Dubai, Pant hilariously asked the wily off-spinner to resort to leg-spin.&nbsp;

The 24-year-old Pant suggested Ashwin, "Armaan pura karne ka yahi mauka hai.&nbsp;Leg spin karne ka Mauka bhi hai, dastoor bhi hai&nbsp;(This is your chance to fulfil your desire of bowling leg spin). Pant's hilarious video soon became the talk of the town and&nbsp;went viral on social media. Here's what he said:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-salman-butt-suggests-ishan-kishans-batting-slot-ahttps://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-salman-butt-suggests-ishan-kishans-batting-slot-after-his-blitzkrieg-vs-england-ahead-of-pakistan-tie-422090fter-his-blitzkrieg-vs-england-ahead-of-pakistan-tie-422090">T20 WC: Salman Butt suggests Ishan Kishan's batting slot after his blitzkrieg vs England ahead of Pakistan tie</a>

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-pakistani-internet-sensation-returns-with-a-hilarious-video-as-indo-pak-clash-nears-watch-422058">T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH</a>

Talking about the match, India ticked many boxes in the warm-up encounter with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami being the chief wicket-takers whereas Ashwin returned with an economical spell, 4-0-23-0. England, however, posted a competitive 188-5 riding on Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone's entertaining cameos before Ishan Kishans 46-ball 70 (retired hurt) and KL Rahul's 24-ball 51 propelled the Men in Blue to an easy 7-wicket win, with an over to spare. Pant, on the other hand, also stood tall with a match-finishing 14-ball 29*.

India will take on Australia in the second warm-up encounter before facing Pakistan in their tournament-opener, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai during the main draw of the marquee event.

There's never a dull moment when Rishabh Pant is standing behind the stumps, whether for Team India or the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL. After taking DC to the playoffs in IPL 2021, the swashbuckling left-hander resumed his services as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Virat Kohli-led India in their first warm-up encounter, versus England, in the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE, on Monday evening (October 18).

There's never a dull moment when Rishabh Pant is standing behind the stumps, whether for Team India or the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL. After taking DC to the playoffs in IPL 2021, the swashbuckling left-hander resumed his services as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Virat Kohli-led India in their first warm-up encounter, versus England, in the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE, on Monday evening (October 18). As expected, Pant left everyone in splits with his commentary from behind the stumps. When R Ashwin came onto bowl the 11th over of England's innings, after India opted to bowl first at ICC Academy Ground, Dubai, Pant hilariously asked the wily off-spinner to resort to leg-spin. The 24-year-old Pant suggested Ashwin, "Armaan pura karne ka yahi mauka hai. Leg spin karne ka Mauka bhi hai, dastoor bhi hai (This is your chance to fulfil your desire of bowling leg spin). Pant's hilarious video soon became the talk of the town and went viral on social media. Here's what he said: ALSO READ | T20 WC: Salman Butt suggests Ishan Kishan's batting slot after his blitzkrieg vs England ahead of Pakistan tie pic.twitter.com/o3h2jskHKh — pant shirt fc (@pant_fc) October 18, 2021 × ALSO READ | T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH Talking about the match, India ticked many boxes in the warm-up encounter with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami being the chief wicket-takers whereas Ashwin returned with an economical spell, 4-0-23-0. England, however, posted a competitive 188-5 riding on Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone's entertaining cameos before Ishan Kishans 46-ball 70 (retired hurt) and KL Rahul's 24-ball 51 propelled the Men in Blue to an easy 7-wicket win, with an over to spare. Pant, on the other hand, also stood tall with a match-finishing 14-ball 29*. India will take on Australia in the second warm-up encounter before facing Pakistan in their tournament-opener, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai during the main draw of the marquee event.

WATCH - 'Fulfill your desire....': Rishabh Pant's hilarious remark to R Ashwin caught on stump-mic

After the India-Pakistan 2019 ODI World Cup clash, in England and Wales, a British-Pakistani entertain and internet sensation Momin&nbsp;Saqib’s hilarious interview got viral, where he was depicting his plight following Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green's 89 runs loss (DLS method) to Virat Kohli-led India.

As the stage is set and there are only a handful of days for the upcoming India-Pakistan clash, in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Pakistani internet sensation is back with another hilarious video for the marquee encounter, to be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday (October 24). Here's the latest video from Saqib as he urges Babar Azam &amp; Co. to beat India in the forthcoming face-off in the T20 WC:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/need-to-create-cricketing-bond-with-bcci-says-pcb-chief-ramiz-raja-after-meeting-sourav-ganguly-jay-shah-421977">Need to create cricketing bond with BCCI, says PCB chief Ramiz Raja after meeting Sourav Ganguly, Jay Shah</a>

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-india-under-pressure-thats-why-they-are-taking-ms-dhoni-as-mentor-says-former-pakistan-cricketer-422013">T20 WC: India under pressure, that’s why they are taking MS Dhoni as mentor, says former Pakistan cricketer</a>

Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, both sides are playing a couple of warm-up encounters in a bid to finalise their team combination and get used to the conditions in the UAE. The T20 WC has commenced but the qualifying round is underway whereas the automatically-qualified teams are busy playing warm-up games.&nbsp;

Both India and Pakistan will open their campaigns against each other, being placed in Pool B along with New Zealand and Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.&nbsp;

For the unversed, India have a 5-0 lead over Pakistan in T20 WC and, thus, will be eager to extend their winning streak in the upcoming match. However, Babar-led Pakistan won't be an easy opposition for Kohli-led India by any means.&nbsp;

After the India-Pakistan 2019 ODI World Cup clash, in England and Wales, a British-Pakistani entertain and internet sensation Momin Saqib’s hilarious interview got viral, where he was depicting his plight following Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green's 89 runs loss (DLS method) to Virat Kohli-led India.

After the India-Pakistan 2019 ODI World Cup clash, in England and Wales, a British-Pakistani entertain and internet sensation Momin Saqib’s hilarious interview got viral, where he was depicting his plight following Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Men in Green's 89 runs loss (DLS method) to Virat Kohli-led India. As the stage is set and there are only a handful of days for the upcoming India-Pakistan clash, in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Pakistani internet sensation is back with another hilarious video for the marquee encounter, to be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday (October 24). Here's the latest video from Saqib as he urges Babar Azam & Co. to beat India in the forthcoming face-off in the T20 WC: ALSO READ | Need to create cricketing bond with BCCI, says PCB chief Ramiz Raja after meeting Sourav Ganguly, Jay Shah × ALSO READ | T20 WC: India under pressure, that’s why they are taking MS Dhoni as mentor, says former Pakistan cricketer Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, both sides are playing a couple of warm-up encounters in a bid to finalise their team combination and get used to the conditions in the UAE. The T20 WC has commenced but the qualifying round is underway whereas the automatically-qualified teams are busy playing warm-up games. Both India and Pakistan will open their campaigns against each other, being placed in Pool B along with New Zealand and Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. For the unversed, India have a 5-0 lead over Pakistan in T20 WC and, thus, will be eager to extend their winning streak in the upcoming match. However, Babar-led Pakistan won't be an easy opposition for Kohli-led India by any means.

T20 WC: Pakistani internet sensation returns with a hilarious video as Indo-Pak clash nears - WATCH

Virat Kohli announced his decision to step aside as the Indian captain in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. While Kohli's decision shocked many in the cricketing fraternity, the Indian team is gearing up for the mega event with an aim to give a perfect send-off to the 32-year-old as his T20I captaincy tenure is set to end.

As Kohli is on the verge of stepping aside as T20I captain, former South African speedster Dale Steyn -- who has shared the dressing room with Kohli in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise -- suggested who should succeed the right-hander at the top post.

While many believe Rohit Sharma -- the vice-captain in shorter formats -- is best suited to succeed King Kohli, Steyn also belives Hitman will be an ideal candidate as the Indian T20I captain.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="David Warner comes up with hilarious response as Rohit Sharma flaunts India's T20 World Cup jersey">David Warner comes up with hilarious response as Rohit Sharma flaunts India's T20 World Cup jersey</a>

"They have got tons. You just have to look around in the IPL and there are so many players. You’ve got SKY, who I think will come in at some place. You've got Rishabh Pant, who is looking good. There are just so many of these guys… Iyer, Rohit. They can all do it but you just have to give somebody that responsibility and allow them to run with it. India have been really good with it. They have given the captaincy to one particular players for a long time and they have done the job," Steyn told Sports Tak.

"They have got a bunch of different people to pick from. I think the most exciting thing for India right now is that the young players that are coming through, they are all world-class players. You look at Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant… these are young guys who are doing extremely well at the international level. So if you give the captaincy to Rohit, who has been around for a while… has won numerous IPLs, it will be a great call since he can nurture the youngsters," he further pointed out.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-wasim-jaffer-michael-vaughan-engage-in-cheeky-banter-as-india-thrash-england-in-warm-up-tie-422020">T20 WC: Wasim Jaffer, Michael Vaughan engage in cheeky banter as India thrash England in warm-up tie</a>

Rohit has already led India in T20Is and ODIs, leading the Men in Blue to Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup 2018 titles. In addition, he remains the most successful IPL captain, with 5 titles with the Mumbai Indians (MI). BCCI will take a call on Kohli's successor post the T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli announced his decision to step aside as the Indian captain in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. While Kohli's decision shocked many in the cricketing fraternity, the Indian team is gearing up for the mega event with an aim to give a perfect send-off to the 32-year-old as his T20I captaincy tenure is set to end.

Virat Kohli announced his decision to step aside as the Indian captain in the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, in the UAE. While Kohli's decision shocked many in the cricketing fraternity, the Indian team is gearing up for the mega event with an aim to give a perfect send-off to the 32-year-old as his T20I captaincy tenure is set to end. As Kohli is on the verge of stepping aside as T20I captain, former South African speedster Dale Steyn -- who has shared the dressing room with Kohli in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise -- suggested who should succeed the right-hander at the top post. While many believe Rohit Sharma -- the vice-captain in shorter formats -- is best suited to succeed King Kohli, Steyn also belives Hitman will be an ideal candidate as the Indian T20I captain. ALSO READ | David Warner comes up with hilarious response as Rohit Sharma flaunts India's T20 World Cup jersey "They have got tons. You just have to look around in the IPL and there are so many players. You’ve got SKY, who I think will come in at some place. You've got Rishabh Pant, who is looking good. There are just so many of these guys… Iyer, Rohit. They can all do it but you just have to give somebody that responsibility and allow them to run with it. India have been really good with it. They have given the captaincy to one particular players for a long time and they have done the job," Steyn told Sports Tak. "They have got a bunch of different people to pick from. I think the most exciting thing for India right now is that the young players that are coming through, they are all world-class players. You look at Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant… these are young guys who are doing extremely well at the international level. So if you give the captaincy to Rohit, who has been around for a while… has won numerous IPLs, it will be a great call since he can nurture the youngsters," he further pointed out. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Wasim Jaffer, Michael Vaughan engage in cheeky banter as India thrash England in warm-up tie Rohit has already led India in T20Is and ODIs, leading the Men in Blue to Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup 2018 titles. In addition, he remains the most successful IPL captain, with 5 titles with the Mumbai Indians (MI). BCCI will take a call on Kohli's successor post the T20 World Cup.

Dale Steyn names Virat Kohli's replacement as India's T20I captain: He can nurture Pant & others

The T20 World Cup 2021 edition has commenced in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the marquee event has kicked off in the UAE, which was earlier supposed to be held in Australia in late 2020 before Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement.

The multi-nation tournament has started with the qualifying round and warm-up encounters being held simultaneously. However, all eyes are on the India-Pakistan game as the arch-rivals will face each other in their respective tournament-openers, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar&nbsp;Mahmood has opined on the mouth-watering clash and stated who has an advantage going into the contest.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-cant-refuse-to-play-pakistan-under-iccs-commitments-says-bccis-rajeev-shukla-amid-calls-for-boycott-421855">India can't refuse to play Pakistan under ICC's commitments, says BCCI's Rajeev Shukla amid calls for boycott</a>

In his latest blog for PakPassion.net, former Pakistan all-rounder and Bowling Coach, Mahmood wrote, "India-Pakistan games are always special when it comes to the hype and the pressure on players and the age-old cliché of any team can win on the day does apply to the game in this T20 World Cup as well. But realistically speaking, India does have an advantage going into this game as their players have been participating in the IPL which was played in the same venues in the UAE. So apart from playing highly competitive cricket, they also will have a good understanding of the playing conditions in the UAE."

"But let us not forget that Pakistani players have also taken part in some intense Twenty20 cricket in the recently concluded National T20 Cup which was moved due to the cancellation of the New Zealand tour. Having said that, we all know that any India-Pakistan match is generally won by the side that is most able to absorb the pressure and in a format like Twenty20, it can easily come down to just one over where a batsman or bowler can totally change the complexion of the game," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/another-feather-in-king-kohlis-hat-virat-kohlis-statue-unveiled-at-dubais-madame-tussauds-421874">Another feather in KING KOHLI's hat! Virat Kohli's statue unveiled at Dubai's Madame Tussauds</a>

For the unversed, India have never lost a game to Pakistan in World Cups (including ODIs and T20Is). Thus, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue will be confident facing the Babar Azam-led line-up, however, they cannot take them lightly as the Men in Green are also among the top three sides in ICC T20I rankings.&nbsp;India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.&nbsp;

Both India and Pakistan have also started their warm-up encounters with easy wins. While Kohli &amp; Co. beat England by 7 wickets, Pakistan also emerged on top of West Indies by the same margin on Monday (October 18).&nbsp;

After the qualifiers and warm-up games, the main draw of the T20 WC will commence from October 23.&nbsp;

The T20 World Cup 2021 edition has commenced in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the marquee event has kicked off in the UAE, which was earlier supposed to be held in Australia in late 2020 before Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement.

The T20 World Cup 2021 edition has commenced in the UAE. After a year-long delay, the marquee event has kicked off in the UAE, which was earlier supposed to be held in Australia in late 2020 before Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement. The multi-nation tournament has started with the qualifying round and warm-up encounters being held simultaneously. However, all eyes are on the India-Pakistan game as the arch-rivals will face each other in their respective tournament-openers, on October 24 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Ahead of the marquee face-off, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has opined on the mouth-watering clash and stated who has an advantage going into the contest. ALSO READ | India can't refuse to play Pakistan under ICC's commitments, says BCCI's Rajeev Shukla amid calls for boycott In his latest blog for PakPassion.net, former Pakistan all-rounder and Bowling Coach, Mahmood wrote, "India-Pakistan games are always special when it comes to the hype and the pressure on players and the age-old cliché of any team can win on the day does apply to the game in this T20 World Cup as well. But realistically speaking, India does have an advantage going into this game as their players have been participating in the IPL which was played in the same venues in the UAE. So apart from playing highly competitive cricket, they also will have a good understanding of the playing conditions in the UAE." "But let us not forget that Pakistani players have also taken part in some intense Twenty20 cricket in the recently concluded National T20 Cup which was moved due to the cancellation of the New Zealand tour. Having said that, we all know that any India-Pakistan match is generally won by the side that is most able to absorb the pressure and in a format like Twenty20, it can easily come down to just one over where a batsman or bowler can totally change the complexion of the game," he added. ALSO READ | Another feather in KING KOHLI's hat! Virat Kohli's statue unveiled at Dubai's Madame Tussauds For the unversed, India have never lost a game to Pakistan in World Cups (including ODIs and T20Is). Thus, the Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue will be confident facing the Babar Azam-led line-up, however, they cannot take them lightly as the Men in Green are also among the top three sides in ICC T20I rankings. India and Pakistan are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers. Both India and Pakistan have also started their warm-up encounters with easy wins. While Kohli & Co. beat England by 7 wickets, Pakistan also emerged on top of West Indies by the same margin on Monday (October 18). After the qualifiers and warm-up games, the main draw of the T20 WC will commence from October 23.

Advantage India or Pakistan? Former Pak all-rounder makes BIG claim ahead of T20 WC face-off

Ahead of India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar said that stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together in a World Cup.

He also said that Pakistan may not pose much of a challenge, taking into consideration the form of the Indian team and statistics. "The stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together but going by Team India's current form and taking the stats into consideration, I don't think Pakistan will pose that much of a challenge," Agarkar told on 'Class of 2007' show on Star Sports.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-reacts-as-rahul-dravid-reportedly-set-to-succeed-ravi-shastri-as-indias-head-coach-421378">Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach</a>

"Having said that, I don't think we should take our neighbours lightly because cricket is a funny game, and things can change at any moment, especially in the T20 format," he further added.&nbsp;

Talking about the 2007 World Cup, which India won after defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final, Agarkar said, "The entire tournament (2007 T20 World Cup) was a dream tour for us. We never thought a bunch of youngsters could achieve such a feat, that too against Pakistan. I think the India-Pakistan rivalry always brings a tidal wave of emotions and is one the most anticipated clashes in the World Cup."

When it comes to India and Pakistan, both the teams have not played a single bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for a short T20I and ODI series. The last time India faced Pakistan was in the 2019 ODI World Cup when India won&nbsp;and maintained the&nbsp;unbeaten record in World Cups.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

However, ahead of the game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli played down the hype created around the clash. While speaking at the press conference, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24.

"I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. "I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added.

Ahead of India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar said that stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together in a World Cup.

Ahead of India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar said that stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together in a World Cup. He also said that Pakistan may not pose much of a challenge, taking into consideration the form of the Indian team and statistics. "The stakes are always high when India and Pakistan play together but going by Team India's current form and taking the stats into consideration, I don't think Pakistan will pose that much of a challenge," Agarkar told on 'Class of 2007' show on Star Sports. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach "Having said that, I don't think we should take our neighbours lightly because cricket is a funny game, and things can change at any moment, especially in the T20 format," he further added. Talking about the 2007 World Cup, which India won after defeating Pakistan by five runs in the final, Agarkar said, "The entire tournament (2007 T20 World Cup) was a dream tour for us. We never thought a bunch of youngsters could achieve such a feat, that too against Pakistan. I think the India-Pakistan rivalry always brings a tidal wave of emotions and is one the most anticipated clashes in the World Cup." When it comes to India and Pakistan, both the teams have not played a single bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for a short T20I and ODI series. The last time India faced Pakistan was in the 2019 ODI World Cup when India won and maintained the unbeaten record in World Cups. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash However, ahead of the game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli played down the hype created around the clash. While speaking at the press conference, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24. "I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. "I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added.

'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event.&nbsp;

Given that India haven't won an ICC title under Virat Kohli, Dhoni was included in the Indian team setup to help the youngsters and Kohli during the mega tournament in the UAE. Ahead of India's campaign in the seventh edition of the showpiece event, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role and revealed how it would help the national side in an event where the stakes will be high on every encounter for Team India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/awwdorable-moment-hardik-pandya-gets-interrupted-by-son-agastya-during-an-interview-before-t20-wc-watch-421808">Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch</a>

Speaking on Star Sports' show Follow The Blues, Gambhir said, "To share his experience with some of the young guys who are playing their first World Cup, which is going to be very important because playing in the World Cup is a completely different piece. So, you would need that experienced someone who's been there done that. So, MS could definitely try and share all his experiences with some of the young cricketers."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-t20-world-cup-2021-prediction-who-will-win-todays-warm-up-match-between-india-and-england-421790">IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England?</a>

Under he 40-year-old Dhoni, India won all three ICC titles. It was under his astute leadership that the Men in Blue won the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa, also including Gambhir. India's last ICC title has also come under the former Indian skipper's leadership; i.e. the 2013 Champions Trophy.&nbsp;

Kohli-led India are set to play two warm-up encounters, versus England and Australia, before they kickoff their campaign in the main draw of the tournament. India face Pakistan on October 24, in Dubai, in their first game and are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Men in Green, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifying round.

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event.

When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-man squad for Virat Kohli-led Team India's T20 World Cup campaign, in the UAE, they pulled off a big surprise as MS Dhoni was appointed as the team mentor for the ICC event. Given that India haven't won an ICC title under Virat Kohli, Dhoni was included in the Indian team setup to help the youngsters and Kohli during the mega tournament in the UAE. Ahead of India's campaign in the seventh edition of the showpiece event, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has opened up on Dhoni's mentorship role and revealed how it would help the national side in an event where the stakes will be high on every encounter for Team India. ALSO READ | Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch Speaking on Star Sports' show Follow The Blues, Gambhir said, "To share his experience with some of the young guys who are playing their first World Cup, which is going to be very important because playing in the World Cup is a completely different piece. So, you would need that experienced someone who's been there done that. So, MS could definitely try and share all his experiences with some of the young cricketers." ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England? Under he 40-year-old Dhoni, India won all three ICC titles. It was under his astute leadership that the Men in Blue won the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa, also including Gambhir. India's last ICC title has also come under the former Indian skipper's leadership; i.e. the 2013 Champions Trophy. Kohli-led India are set to play two warm-up encounters, versus England and Australia, before they kickoff their campaign in the main draw of the tournament. India face Pakistan on October 24, in Dubai, in their first game and are placed in Pool B, alongside New Zealand, Men in Green, Afghanistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifying round.

Gautam Gambhir shares his thoughts on MS Dhoni mentoring Virat Kohli-led Team India in T20 World Cup

The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced on October 17, in the UAE. While the qualifying round is underway at the moment, the automatically-qualified teams such as India, England, Pakistan, West Indies, etc. are involved in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the showpiece event kicks off from October 23.&nbsp;

Ahead of the main draw, Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was busy shooting for an interview when he got a surprise visit by his one-year-old son. His son Agastya came searching for him and interrupted the interview in one of the most adorable ways ever. Here's the adorable clip of the father-son bond:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
That awwdorable moment when papa <a href="https://twitter.com/hardikpandya7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hardikpandya7</a> had a surprise visitor during his interview. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20WorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20WorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yy8RcNPbPp">pic.twitter.com/Yy8RcNPbPp</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1450024852769984513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-world-t20-shardul-chakravarthy-to-get-a-look-in-indias-predicted-playing-xi-for-warm-up-game-vs-england-421758">ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England</a>

For the unversed, Hardik and his wife Natasa Stankovic were blessed with their baby boy during the Covid-19 lockdown in July, 2020. As he turned a year old this year, Hardik had shared a heartfelt note for his child along with an adorable video of some of his precious moments with Agastya. He wrote, "I cannot believe you’re ONE year old already. Agastya, you are my heart and my soul. You’ve shown me what love is more than I’ve ever known. You’ve been the biggest blessing in my life and I cannot imagine a single day without you. Love you and miss you with all my heart."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-t20-world-cup-2021-prediction-who-will-win-todays-warm-up-match-between-india-and-england-421790">IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England?</a>

Currently, Hardik-starrer India are gearing up for their first warm-up encounter in the T20 WC, versus England in Dubai on Monday evening (October 18). They will play Australia in their last warm-up game before their tournament-opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday).&nbsp;

India are placed in Pool B, along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.

The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced on October 17, in the UAE. While the qualifying round is underway at the moment, the automatically-qualified teams such as India, England, Pakistan, West Indies, etc.

The T20 World Cup 2021 has commenced on October 17, in the UAE. While the qualifying round is underway at the moment, the automatically-qualified teams such as India, England, Pakistan, West Indies, etc. are involved in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the showpiece event kicks off from October 23. Ahead of the main draw, Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was busy shooting for an interview when he got a surprise visit by his one-year-old son. His son Agastya came searching for him and interrupted the interview in one of the most adorable ways ever. Here's the adorable clip of the father-son bond: That awwdorable moment when papa @hardikpandya7 had a surprise visitor during his interview. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Yy8RcNPbPp — BCCI (@BCCI) October 18, 2021 × ALSO READ | ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England For the unversed, Hardik and his wife Natasa Stankovic were blessed with their baby boy during the Covid-19 lockdown in July, 2020. As he turned a year old this year, Hardik had shared a heartfelt note for his child along with an adorable video of some of his precious moments with Agastya. He wrote, "I cannot believe you’re ONE year old already. Agastya, you are my heart and my soul. You’ve shown me what love is more than I’ve ever known. You’ve been the biggest blessing in my life and I cannot imagine a single day without you. Love you and miss you with all my heart." ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England? Currently, Hardik-starrer India are gearing up for their first warm-up encounter in the T20 WC, versus England in Dubai on Monday evening (October 18). They will play Australia in their last warm-up game before their tournament-opener, versus Pakistan on October 24 (Sunday). India are placed in Pool B, along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Pakistan whereas two other teams will join from the qualifiers.

Awwdorable moment| Hardik Pandya gets interrupted by son Agastya during an interview before T20 WC - Watch

Team India will aim to end their ICC trophy drought when they return to action in the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman. The Virat Kohli-led side will open their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24.

India's last major ICC trophy came under former captain MS Dhoni when he inspired the Men in Blue to a historic triumph at the Champions Trophy in England. India have since failed to clinch a major ICC trophy and will be desperate to return home with the elusive T20 World Cup title.

Since taking over as the full-time skipper of the Indian team in 2017, Kohli has been instrumental as a batter and a leader in India's success across all three formats of the game. However, an ICC trophy continues to elude the run-machine when it comes to his record as a captain.

Having already announced that he will be stepping down as the captain of the T20I side after the T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli will be hoping to end his captaincy stint in the shortest format on a high and inspire India to their second T20 World Cup title.

Ahead of the start of India's campaign at the showpiece event, here we take a look at the team's performances under Virat Kohli in major ICC events so far -

1) ICC Champions Trophy 2017

<img alt="India lost Champions Trophy final against Pakistan in 2017" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b2cff164-e44d-4a7f-905d-8181b9f5f35f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Champions%20trophy%202017.png" />

The Champions Trophy in 2017 was Virat Kohli's first major assignment as the captain of the Indian team. Up against arch-rivals Pakistan in the very first game of the tournament, India registered a massive win by 124 runs to get their campaign underway in style. The win set the tone for the Men in Blue as they played some phenomenal cricket in the group stages to make it to the knockout round.

In the semi-final, India were up against an in-form and spirited Bangladesh side. Kohli &amp; Co. mauled their oponnents by nine wickets to book a spot in the final where they were once again up against Pakistan. Batting first, Pakistan posted a huge total of 338 runs at the Kennington Oval in London before bowling out India for a paltry 158 as the Men in Blue lost the final by a whopping 180 runs to miss out on the trophy.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-one-can-beat-ms-dhonis-legacy-in-team-india-and-chennai-super-kings-virender-sehwag-421477">No one can beat MS Dhoni's legacy in Team India and Chennai Super Kings: Virender Sehwag</a>

2) ICC ODI World Cup 2019

<img alt="India lost in the semi-final of the 2019 ODI World Cup." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6229712e-397b-4838-a39f-64610b3f81a2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Dhoni%20run%20out.png" />

Virat Kohli's first ODI World Cup as the captain of the Indian team couldn't have come at a better time for the skipper. With most of the players at the peak of their prowess, Kohli &amp; Co. were one of the favourites heading into the tournament. They did live up to the expectations and dominated the league stage to top the points table with 15 points from nine matches with just one loss in nine games.

However, India crumbled under pressure in the semi-final against New Zealand. The rain-affected clash was played across two days in Manchester with New Zealand posting a moderate total of 239/8 batting first. India got off to a woeful start in the run-chase as they lost their top three on one run each and were reduced to 3/5 inside the first four overs. MS Dhoni (50) and Ravindra Jadeja (77) led India's fightback and got the team close to a victory. However, India suffered a heartbreaking loss by 18 runs to bow out of the tournament. It also turned out to be MS Dhoni's final game in an India jersey as he announced his retirement on August 15, a year later.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/another-game-of-cricket-virat-kohli-plays-down-hype-ahead-of-india-pakistan-clash-at-t20-wc-421463">Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC</a>

3) ICC World Test Championship (2019-2021)&nbsp;

<img alt="India lost the WTC final against New Zealand in 2021." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4382a74e-fcb1-4e50-91ee-f347eb93858d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kohli%20Williamson.png" />

India once again proved to be the best team in the league stages as they lost just one out of six series they took part in during the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship which was played from 2019 to 2021. India's only series defeat came against New Zealand as they topped the rankings in the league stages to make it to the final where they were once again up against the Kiwis.

It was a golden chance for Virat Kohli to extend India's dominance further in Test cricket and bring an end to their ICC trophy drought. However, New Zealand outclassed India in a thrilling final to become the maiden champions of the World Test Championship. New Zealand won the rain-affected final by eight wickets in Southampton to lift the prestigious trophy.

&nbsp;

Team India will aim to end their ICC trophy drought when they return to action in the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman. The Virat Kohli-led side will open their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24.

Team India will aim to end their ICC trophy drought when they return to action in the T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE and Oman. The Virat Kohli-led side will open their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. India's last major ICC trophy came under former captain MS Dhoni when he inspired the Men in Blue to a historic triumph at the Champions Trophy in England. India have since failed to clinch a major ICC trophy and will be desperate to return home with the elusive T20 World Cup title. Since taking over as the full-time skipper of the Indian team in 2017, Kohli has been instrumental as a batter and a leader in India's success across all three formats of the game. However, an ICC trophy continues to elude the run-machine when it comes to his record as a captain. Having already announced that he will be stepping down as the captain of the T20I side after the T20 World Cup 2021, Kohli will be hoping to end his captaincy stint in the shortest format on a high and inspire India to their second T20 World Cup title. Ahead of the start of India's campaign at the showpiece event, here we take a look at the team's performances under Virat Kohli in major ICC events so far - 1) ICC Champions Trophy 2017 The Champions Trophy in 2017 was Virat Kohli's first major assignment as the captain of the Indian team. Up against arch-rivals Pakistan in the very first game of the tournament, India registered a massive win by 124 runs to get their campaign underway in style. The win set the tone for the Men in Blue as they played some phenomenal cricket in the group stages to make it to the knockout round. In the semi-final, India were up against an in-form and spirited Bangladesh side. Kohli & Co. mauled their oponnents by nine wickets to book a spot in the final where they were once again up against Pakistan. Batting first, Pakistan posted a huge total of 338 runs at the Kennington Oval in London before bowling out India for a paltry 158 as the Men in Blue lost the final by a whopping 180 runs to miss out on the trophy. Also Read: No one can beat MS Dhoni's legacy in Team India and Chennai Super Kings: Virender Sehwag 2) ICC ODI World Cup 2019 Virat Kohli's first ODI World Cup as the captain of the Indian team couldn't have come at a better time for the skipper. With most of the players at the peak of their prowess, Kohli & Co. were one of the favourites heading into the tournament. They did live up to the expectations and dominated the league stage to top the points table with 15 points from nine matches with just one loss in nine games. However, India crumbled under pressure in the semi-final against New Zealand. The rain-affected clash was played across two days in Manchester with New Zealand posting a moderate total of 239/8 batting first. India got off to a woeful start in the run-chase as they lost their top three on one run each and were reduced to 3/5 inside the first four overs. MS Dhoni (50) and Ravindra Jadeja (77) led India's fightback and got the team close to a victory. However, India suffered a heartbreaking loss by 18 runs to bow out of the tournament. It also turned out to be MS Dhoni's final game in an India jersey as he announced his retirement on August 15, a year later. Also Read: Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC 3) ICC World Test Championship (2019-2021) India once again proved to be the best team in the league stages as they lost just one out of six series they took part in during the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship which was played from 2019 to 2021. India's only series defeat came against New Zealand as they topped the rankings in the league stages to make it to the final where they were once again up against the Kiwis. It was a golden chance for Virat Kohli to extend India's dominance further in Test cricket and bring an end to their ICC trophy drought. However, New Zealand outclassed India in a thrilling final to become the maiden champions of the World Test Championship. New Zealand won the rain-affected final by eight wickets in Southampton to lift the prestigious trophy.

As India gear up for T20 World Cup 2021, a look at team's performances in ICC events under Virat Kohli

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23. Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue have a stern task in the warm-up encounters, playing strong contenders such as England and Australia, respectively.&nbsp;

For the unversed, both India and England met each other during early 2021 for a five-match T20I series. It will be interesting to see what will be the team combination for both sides as majority of their players were seen in the final leg of IPL 2021 and are well aware of the conditions to be on offer in the UAE. The match will be played at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-world-t20-shardul-chakravarthy-to-get-a-look-in-indias-predicted-playing-xi-for-warm-up-game-vs-england-421758">ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England</a>

Team India will like to make the most of their two warm-up encounters as they have plenty of questions to answer. Their opening combination, bowling attack, Hardik Pandya's availability as a bowler, etc. will be in focus. For England, Eoin Morgan &amp; Co. will hope for their skipper to get some runs under his belt before the main draw of the tournament starts, from October 23. On the other hand, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, etc. will want to make the most of the two games as well after they struggled to get their timing right in the UAE leg of IPL 14. Jos Buttler will turn up on the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. Hence, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the warm-up tie.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-ind-vs-eng-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-india-vs-england-warm-up-match-421727">T20 World Cup, IND vs ENG live streaming: When and where to watch India vs England warm-up match?</a>

Match prediction for India-England T20 WC match:&nbsp;It will be interesting to see how the two teams approach these warm-up encounters. Needless to say, they will like to get a win under their belt but it also serves as a chance to test their bench strength or tweak few of their combinations. On paper, both sides are very strong but England have some serious power-hitters in their line-up. India isn't far behind by any means and will like to make use of the slow and sluggish surfaces in UAE. Much will depend on how much bounce will the track provide. England might edge past India in the warm-up encounter, given most of the Indian players are still coming out of a gruelling second and final leg of IPL 2021.

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23.

India and England will lock horns with each other in their first of the two warm-up games before the main draw of the T20 World Cup 2021 commences from October 23. Virat Kohli-led Men in Blue have a stern task in the warm-up encounters, playing strong contenders such as England and Australia, respectively. For the unversed, both India and England met each other during early 2021 for a five-match T20I series. It will be interesting to see what will be the team combination for both sides as majority of their players were seen in the final leg of IPL 2021 and are well aware of the conditions to be on offer in the UAE. The match will be played at the ICC Academy Ground, Dubai. ALSO READ | ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England Team India will like to make the most of their two warm-up encounters as they have plenty of questions to answer. Their opening combination, bowling attack, Hardik Pandya's availability as a bowler, etc. will be in focus. For England, Eoin Morgan & Co. will hope for their skipper to get some runs under his belt before the main draw of the tournament starts, from October 23. On the other hand, Dawid Malan, Liam Livingstone, etc. will want to make the most of the two games as well after they struggled to get their timing right in the UAE leg of IPL 14. Jos Buttler will turn up on the 22-yard cricket strip after a long gap. Hence, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the warm-up tie. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup, IND vs ENG live streaming: When and where to watch India vs England warm-up match? Match prediction for India-England T20 WC match: It will be interesting to see how the two teams approach these warm-up encounters. Needless to say, they will like to get a win under their belt but it also serves as a chance to test their bench strength or tweak few of their combinations. On paper, both sides are very strong but England have some serious power-hitters in their line-up. India isn't far behind by any means and will like to make use of the slow and sluggish surfaces in UAE. Much will depend on how much bounce will the track provide. England might edge past India in the warm-up encounter, given most of the Indian players are still coming out of a gruelling second and final leg of IPL 2021.

IND vs ENG, T20 World Cup 2021 prediction: Who will win today's warm-up match between India and England?

Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the most passionate characters on the field when he is playing for his team. However, off the field, he remains a gentleman who also likes to have fun and pull the legs of his teammates. Kohli is a master when it comes to copying the action of different players and has often mimicked some of his Indian teammates.

The Indian skipper was recently seen mimicking left-hand batter Shikhar Dhawan in a video shared by him on social media. In the video, Kohli can be seen trying to adjust his shirt exactly like Dhawan before taking his stance. He then goes on to copy Dhawan's upright stance and the way he leaves a ball while batting.

Kohli also tries to copy Dhawan's smile after mimicking&nbsp;leave. The video has become a hit among fans on social media and has gone viral in no time.&nbsp;"Shikhi, how's this one?," Kohli wrote on Twitter while sharing the clip.&nbsp;"I feel he is lost in his space so much. It's very funny. I have seen him so many times from the other end," the Indian skipper said in the video.

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Shikhi, how's this one? <a href="https://twitter.com/SDhawan25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SDhawan25</a> <a href="https://t.co/nhq4q2CxSZ">pic.twitter.com/nhq4q2CxSZ</a>
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Kohli will be seen leading Team India in the T20 World Cup 2021 which got underway on October 17. India will open their campaign with a much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-would-be-working-at-a-petrol-pump-if-not-for-money-in-cricket-hardik-pandya-421729">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-would-be-working-at-a-petrol-pump-if-not-for-money-in-cricket-hardik-pandya-421729">I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya</a>

Ahead of their T20 World Cup 2021 opener, India will play two warm-up matches against England and Australia on October 18 and 20 respectively to fine-tune their preparations. India are placed in Group 2 of Super 12 along with Pakistan, Afghanistan and New Zealand.

The Men in Blue will face New Zealand on October 31 before taking on Afghanistan in their final league match on November 03.

Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the most passionate characters on the field when he is playing for his team. However, off the field, he remains a gentleman who also likes to have fun and pull the legs of his teammates.

Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the most passionate characters on the field when he is playing for his team. However, off the field, he remains a gentleman who also likes to have fun and pull the legs of his teammates. Kohli is a master when it comes to copying the action of different players and has often mimicked some of his Indian teammates. The Indian skipper was recently seen mimicking left-hand batter Shikhar Dhawan in a video shared by him on social media. In the video, Kohli can be seen trying to adjust his shirt exactly like Dhawan before taking his stance. He then goes on to copy Dhawan's upright stance and the way he leaves a ball while batting. Kohli also tries to copy Dhawan's smile after mimicking leave. The video has become a hit among fans on social media and has gone viral in no time. "Shikhi, how's this one?," Kohli wrote on Twitter while sharing the clip. "I feel he is lost in his space so much. It's very funny. I have seen him so many times from the other end," the Indian skipper said in the video. Shikhi, how's this one? @SDhawan25 pic.twitter.com/nhq4q2CxSZ — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 18, 2021 × Kohli will be seen leading Team India in the T20 World Cup 2021 which got underway on October 17. India will open their campaign with a much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. Also Read: I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya Ahead of their T20 World Cup 2021 opener, India will play two warm-up matches against England and Australia on October 18 and 20 respectively to fine-tune their preparations. India are placed in Group 2 of Super 12 along with Pakistan, Afghanistan and New Zealand. The Men in Blue will face New Zealand on October 31 before taking on Afghanistan in their final league match on November 03.

Virat Kohli hilariously mimics Shikhar Dhawan's batting style, video goes viral - WATCH

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager&nbsp;to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23.

For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off.&nbsp;

For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-would-be-working-at-a-petrol-pump-if-not-for-money-in-cricket-hardik-pandya-421729">&nbsp;I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya</a>

India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture.

The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well?&nbsp;

India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy

If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-stakes-are-always-high-ajit-agarkar-on-india-pakistan-t20-world-cup-clash-421641">'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash</a>

Squads

India:&nbsp;Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya.

England:&nbsp;Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18).

Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin their campaign in the seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 with their first of the two warm-up encounters, versus Eoin Morgan-led England on Monday (October 18). The one-time winners are starting their campaign versus one of the strongest contenders for the marquee title. Hence, the Men in Blue will be on their toes and eager to tick some of the boxes in the warm-up encounters before the main draw of the tournament kicks off from October 23. For the unversed, India played their last T20I -- comprising full-strength side -- versus England in early 2021. Hence, both sides are fully aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. What will be interesting to see is how the two teams go ahead, in terms of the team combinations, in the warm-up face-off. For Kohli-led India, they have plenty of questions to answer. In their last game versus England, during the five-match T20Is in India in February-March, KL Rahul didn't open in the series-decider as Kohli-Rohit Sharma came out as openers. Back then, Rahul was in torrid form. Will Kohli continue as an opener despite Rahul's brilliant form in IPL 14's second and final leg in the UAE? Moreover, it will be interesting to see how many spinners get included in the India XI. At present, they have options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy. Given the recent form, Varun and Jadeja seem like a certain in the XI. However, Varun's fitness was an issue in the last few games in IPL 2021. Hence, the focus will be on him. ALSO READ | I would be working at a petrol pump if not for money in cricket: Hardik Pandya India also have a veteran and experienced campaigner in Ashwin. However, he was off-colours in the second and final IPL 14 leg. Hence, he might not make it to the first XI so easily. The biggest factor among all will be Hardik Pandya's bowling. Will the all-rounder finally contribute with some overs? He didn't bowl a single over in IPL 14's final leg in the UAE. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur -- one of the most-successful bowlers for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021 -- is very likely to be in India's XI for their first warm-up fixture. The team management will also closely monitor Bhuvneshwar Kumar's form, who wasn't at his best for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the just-concluded IPL season. Lastly, Ishan Kishan returned back to form in the last few games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 14. Will he get a look-in as well? India's playing XI for England warm-up tie: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy If Hardik doesn't plan to bowl, India will have to make way for another pacer; which might also prompt them to drop the 27-year-old. ALSO READ | 'The stakes are always high': Ajit Agarkar on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash Squads India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya. England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

ICC World T20: Shardul, Chakravarthy to get a look-in? India's predicted playing XI for warm-up game vs England

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman.&nbsp;

Now, former Indian batter Suresh Raina said that Kohli deserves to draw the curtains on his T20 captaincy stint with the coveted trophy, adding that Kohli should get a befitting farewell from his teammates.&nbsp;

In a column for ICC, Raina wrote, "For India, the message at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is simple — do it for Virat Kohli. It will probably be his last time at this tournament as captain, so it's very important for him to make everyone believe we can do it and for us to get behind him."&nbsp;

"India fans can't wait for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to start for this reason. We have the players, we have the momentum - we just need to go out there and execute now, he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-shoaib-akhtar-chilling-with-sunil-gavaskar-kapil-dev-ahead-of-india-pakistan-clash-see-pics-421529">T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar &amp; Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics</a>

Raina weighed in on the performance of the Indian team in the tournament, as he said that the key to India's success in the tournament lies in the performance of the top three batters.&nbsp;

"For me, the key to success for India's batting lies in the top three. Rohit Sharma is a gun player -- he has a brilliant record at ICC events in the past and had a great IPL. We need Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat to bat through to 15 overs and lay the platform. They can set the momentum for the India team by doing this," he said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whats-the-point-of-playing-harbhajan-singh-takes-a-jibe-at-shoaib-akhtar-ahead-of-india-vs-pakistan-clash-421363">'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash</a>

Raina also mentioned the middle batting order as he said, "There are lots of electric combinations in the middle order and obviously Rishabh Pant is going to play a key role there. Hardik Pandya is also very capable as a power hitter. But if the top three are still there at that stage of the innings, there is no target that India can't chase."&nbsp;

Raina is optimistic about India achieving something special in the tournament. "We have been waiting for this T20 World Cup for a long time. It has been a difficult two years but I think we're about to see something special in the UAE and Oman," he said.&nbsp;

Kohli-led team India will start their T20 World Cup campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The match will kick start at 7:30pm IST.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman.

Virat Kohli, the current skipper of the Indian cricket team has already announced that he will be stepping down from the captaincy after the conclusion of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is underway in UAE and Oman. Now, former Indian batter Suresh Raina said that Kohli deserves to draw the curtains on his T20 captaincy stint with the coveted trophy, adding that Kohli should get a befitting farewell from his teammates. In a column for ICC, Raina wrote, "For India, the message at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is simple — do it for Virat Kohli. It will probably be his last time at this tournament as captain, so it's very important for him to make everyone believe we can do it and for us to get behind him." "India fans can't wait for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 to start for this reason. We have the players, we have the momentum - we just need to go out there and execute now, he added. ALSO READ | T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics Raina weighed in on the performance of the Indian team in the tournament, as he said that the key to India's success in the tournament lies in the performance of the top three batters. "For me, the key to success for India's batting lies in the top three. Rohit Sharma is a gun player -- he has a brilliant record at ICC events in the past and had a great IPL. We need Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat to bat through to 15 overs and lay the platform. They can set the momentum for the India team by doing this," he said. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Raina also mentioned the middle batting order as he said, "There are lots of electric combinations in the middle order and obviously Rishabh Pant is going to play a key role there. Hardik Pandya is also very capable as a power hitter. But if the top three are still there at that stage of the innings, there is no target that India can't chase." Raina is optimistic about India achieving something special in the tournament. "We have been waiting for this T20 World Cup for a long time. It has been a difficult two years but I think we're about to see something special in the UAE and Oman," he said. Kohli-led team India will start their T20 World Cup campaign with a heavyweight clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. The match will kick start at 7:30pm IST.

Suresh Raina's message to India's T20 World Cup squad, says 'do it for Virat Kohli'

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli &amp; Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.&nbsp;

Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title.&nbsp;

The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-to-be-the-1st-player-to-be-kept-by-csk-if-retentions-are-allowed-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-report-421442">MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction&nbsp;</a>

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Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑<a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> is back with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> and in a new role!💪 <a href="https://t.co/Ew5PylMdRy">pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy</a>
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Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as&nbsp;a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team.

"Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-having-ms-dhoni-as-mentor-will-benefit-team-says-indian-skipper-virat-kohli-421357">T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli</a>

"Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game,"&nbsp;said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup.

"Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has joined Team India's camp as the Virat Kohli & Co. begin their preparations for their ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, BCCI on Sunday (October 17) released pictures of Dhoni with some Indian players. The tournament is underway in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Former Team India skipper Dhoni was appointed as the team's mentor last month and has joined the Indian camp after leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth Indian Premier League title. The BCCI's official Twitter account shared images of Dhoni interacting with Team India, with the comment: "Extending a very warm welcome to the KING. @msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role." Also Read: MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑@msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role!💪 pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy — BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2021 × Virat Kohli, India's captain, stated on Saturday (October 16) that having MS Dhoni as a mentor for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will benefit his team. "Massive experience. He is quite excited about getting back in this environment. He has always been a mentor for all of us, when we were starting our careers at the time he played and now he has the same opportunity to continue the same again." ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: 'Having MS Dhoni as mentor will benefit team,' says Indian skipper Virat Kohli "Especially for the younger guys who are in early stages of their career, just experience that he has gained over the years and having conversations with him about the game," said Kohli during a Captain's Call organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup. "Such practical inputs and such intricate details of where the game is going and where we can improve. He makes a difference when he is in a leadership role in any team, absolutely delighted to have him in this environment. He will certainly boost the morale of the team further," he added.

T20 WC: MS Dhoni joins Team India camp as Virat Kohli & Co. begin preparations - see pics

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will resume their rivalry in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the iconic Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah on Friday (September 24). The blockbuster encounter is expected to be a historic one with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli potentially enjoying their final duel as captains in the IPL.

Kohli has already announced that he will be stepping down as the RCB captain after the conclusion of IPL 2021 in UAE, while Dhoni's future beyond the current season in the cash-rich league remains uncertain. Dhoni, who has already retired from international cricket, is in the final lap of his illustrious career and might draw curtains on his IPL career post this season.

The RCB skipper had earlier confirmed he will also relinquish team India's T20 captaincy after the T20 World Cup 2021 but his decision to step down from RCB captaincy had come as a shock to many. If Kohli decides not to return to captaincy again or Dhoni retires from all forms for cricket after the 2021 season, Sharjah can be witness to a historic final captaincy duel between the two icons of Indian cricket on Friday.

Kohli and Dhoni might lock horns against each other once again later this season if their teams manage to make it to the playoffs, however, that remains an uncertain possibility considering the competitive nature of the sport. Thus, fans will be eager to soak the most of what has been an epic rivalry between the two enigmatic personalities as their teams go up against each other in Sharjah.

Dhoni and Kohli are two of the most popular superstars in the history of IPL, commanding a staggering fan base across the globe. While Dhoni has outshone Kohli in captaincy, the RCB skipper has been the better batsman over the last few seasons in the IPL.

Captaincy record:&nbsp;

Dhoni has been one of the most successful captains in the history of the Indian Premier League with 104 wins to his name in 174 matches. He has led CSK to three IPL titles and a staggering eight finals. Kohli has 49 wins to his name in 100 matches as captain and is yet to win his maiden IPL title with RCB.

Batting record:&nbsp;

When it comes to weaving magic with the willow, run-machine Kohli comfortably outclasses Dhoni. The RCB skipper has 5412 runs in 177 matches as captain while Dhoni has so far managed to amass 4432 runs in 190 matches as a skipper. Kohli is also the leading run-getter in the history of IPL with 6081 runs in 200 matches at a brilliant average of 37.77.

The last dance:

The much-awaited clash between RCB and CSK in Sharjah on Friday might potentially be the final time Kohli and Dhoni take the field against each other as captains of their respective sides in the IPL. CSK have enjoyed a stellar dominance over RCB with 17 wins and 9 losses in 26 meetings, but it remains to be seen who will come out on top in the last dance between the two greats.

&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will resume their rivalry in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the iconic Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah on Friday (September 24).

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will resume their rivalry in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the iconic Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah on Friday (September 24). The blockbuster encounter is expected to be a historic one with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli potentially enjoying their final duel as captains in the IPL. Kohli has already announced that he will be stepping down as the RCB captain after the conclusion of IPL 2021 in UAE, while Dhoni's future beyond the current season in the cash-rich league remains uncertain. Dhoni, who has already retired from international cricket, is in the final lap of his illustrious career and might draw curtains on his IPL career post this season. The RCB skipper had earlier confirmed he will also relinquish team India's T20 captaincy after the T20 World Cup 2021 but his decision to step down from RCB captaincy had come as a shock to many. If Kohli decides not to return to captaincy again or Dhoni retires from all forms for cricket after the 2021 season, Sharjah can be witness to a historic final captaincy duel between the two icons of Indian cricket on Friday. Kohli and Dhoni might lock horns against each other once again later this season if their teams manage to make it to the playoffs, however, that remains an uncertain possibility considering the competitive nature of the sport. Thus, fans will be eager to soak the most of what has been an epic rivalry between the two enigmatic personalities as their teams go up against each other in Sharjah. Dhoni and Kohli are two of the most popular superstars in the history of IPL, commanding a staggering fan base across the globe. While Dhoni has outshone Kohli in captaincy, the RCB skipper has been the better batsman over the last few seasons in the IPL. Captaincy record: Dhoni has been one of the most successful captains in the history of the Indian Premier League with 104 wins to his name in 174 matches. He has led CSK to three IPL titles and a staggering eight finals. Kohli has 49 wins to his name in 100 matches as captain and is yet to win his maiden IPL title with RCB. Batting record: When it comes to weaving magic with the willow, run-machine Kohli comfortably outclasses Dhoni. The RCB skipper has 5412 runs in 177 matches as captain while Dhoni has so far managed to amass 4432 runs in 190 matches as a skipper. Kohli is also the leading run-getter in the history of IPL with 6081 runs in 200 matches at a brilliant average of 37.77. The last dance: The much-awaited clash between RCB and CSK in Sharjah on Friday might potentially be the final time Kohli and Dhoni take the field against each other as captains of their respective sides in the IPL. CSK have enjoyed a stellar dominance over RCB with 17 wins and 9 losses in 26 meetings, but it remains to be seen who will come out on top in the last dance between the two greats.

RCB vs CSK: The last dance! Can this be final captaincy duel between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in IPL?

As India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns on October 24, in the T20 World Cup 2021, fans from both nations are early waiting for the high-octane clash. The frenzy for India vs Pakistan clashes in World Cups is unparalleled.

As India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns on October 24, in the T20 World Cup 2021, fans from both nations are early waiting for the high-octane clash. The frenzy for India vs Pakistan clashes in World Cups is unparalleled. Ahead of the blockbuster match, former players from both the countries and critics are giving their valuable insights over probable playing XI and the possible outcome of the match. ALSO READ | 'What's the point of playing?': Harbhajan Singh takes a jibe at Shoaib Akhtar ahead of India vs Pakistan clash Now, photos uploaded by former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar have amped-up the excitement as he can be seen with some top players from both the countries such as Indian legends Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar. In the same frame, former Pakistani cricketer Zaheer Abbas can also be spotted. "Chilling with the best of the best. The great Zaheer Abbas, Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev. All set for the cricket ka maha muqabla," wrote Akhtar as the caption. See pictures here: Chilling with the best of the best. The great Zaheer Abbas, Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev. All set for the cricket ka maha muqabla. #Pakistan #India #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wmXj6XESMw — Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) October 16, 2021 × ALSO READ | From India vs Pakistan to Manchester United vs Liverpool: Could October 24 get any better? When it comes to India and Pakistan, both the teams have not played a single bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for a short T20I and ODI series. The last time India faced Pakistan was in the 2019 ODI World Cup when India won against Pakistan and maintained their unbeaten record in World Cups. However, ahead of the game, Indian skipper Virat Kohli played down the hype created around the clash. While speaking at the press conference, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reacts as Rahul Dravid reportedly set to succeed Ravi Shastri as India's head coach "I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. "I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added.

T20 WC: Shoaib Akhtar 'chilling' with Sunil Gavaskar & Kapil Dev ahead of India-Pakistan clash - see pics

R Ashwin's inclusion in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2021 came as a surprise to many. The senior spinner last played a white-ball game for India in 2017 and was a regular only in Tests with not many expecting him to feature in the T20 World Cup squad. However, Ashwin made his comeback into the side and is now likely to be one of the first-choice spinners for the Men in Blue at the showpiece event.

Captain Virat Kohli recently explained the reason behind Ashwin's inclusion in the squad and said the off-spinner was rewarded for reviving his skills in white-ball cricket. Ashwin might not have played white-ball cricket for India since 2017 but remains one of the vital cogs of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Tamil Nadu side in the domestic circuit.

“Ashwin has been rewarded for reviving his white-ball skills altogether. He bowls with a lot of courage in white-ball cricket,” Kohli said during a press conference organised by ICC on Saturday (October 16).

Kohli further went on to point out how Ashwin has been bowling well in the IPL over the last couple of years and has also taken up responsibility in pressure situations for Delhi Capitals. Kohli believes Ashwin's experience and his confidence heading into the tournament will prove handy for Team India at the T20 World Cup.

“If you saw the IPL in the last couple of years, he’s bowled difficult overs, he’s bowled against the top players in the IPL, and not being shy to put the ball in the right areas. Spinners can get intimidated by the way power hitters hit the ball, but Ashwin believed in his skill set," said the Indian skipper.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/another-game-of-cricket-virat-kohli-plays-down-hype-ahead-of-india-pakistan-clash-at-t20-wc-421463">&nbsp;Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC</a>

“We felt like the way he was bowling and his variations now and his control over pace is something which is… again a lot of experience, a guy who has played a lot of international cricket and he’s at his confident best. These guys can go in there and change the game with their spells," he added.

India will open their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. It remains to be seen if Ashwin will make the cut in the playing XI for the highly-anticipated clash between the two teams. 
&nbsp;

R Ashwin's inclusion in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2021 came as a surprise to many. The senior spinner last played a white-ball game for India in 2017 and was a regular only in Tests with not many expecting him to feature in the T20 World Cup squad.

R Ashwin's inclusion in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2021 came as a surprise to many. The senior spinner last played a white-ball game for India in 2017 and was a regular only in Tests with not many expecting him to feature in the T20 World Cup squad. However, Ashwin made his comeback into the side and is now likely to be one of the first-choice spinners for the Men in Blue at the showpiece event. Captain Virat Kohli recently explained the reason behind Ashwin's inclusion in the squad and said the off-spinner was rewarded for reviving his skills in white-ball cricket. Ashwin might not have played white-ball cricket for India since 2017 but remains one of the vital cogs of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Tamil Nadu side in the domestic circuit. “Ashwin has been rewarded for reviving his white-ball skills altogether. He bowls with a lot of courage in white-ball cricket,” Kohli said during a press conference organised by ICC on Saturday (October 16). Kohli further went on to point out how Ashwin has been bowling well in the IPL over the last couple of years and has also taken up responsibility in pressure situations for Delhi Capitals. Kohli believes Ashwin's experience and his confidence heading into the tournament will prove handy for Team India at the T20 World Cup. “If you saw the IPL in the last couple of years, he’s bowled difficult overs, he’s bowled against the top players in the IPL, and not being shy to put the ball in the right areas. Spinners can get intimidated by the way power hitters hit the ball, but Ashwin believed in his skill set," said the Indian skipper. Also Read: Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC “We felt like the way he was bowling and his variations now and his control over pace is something which is… again a lot of experience, a guy who has played a lot of international cricket and he’s at his confident best. These guys can go in there and change the game with their spells," he added. India will open their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. It remains to be seen if Ashwin will make the cut in the playing XI for the highly-anticipated clash between the two teams.

R Ashwin was rewarded for reviving his white-ball skills: Virat Kohli on spinner's selection in T20 WC squad

Indian skipper&nbsp;Virat Kohli has played down the hype surrounding the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli said he and his team will approach the high-profile clash against Pakistan as just another cricket match in the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

The T20 World Cup 2021 is set to kick off on October 17 in the UAE and Oman. India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. The expectations will be high and pressure will be on both teams with millions of fans watching the game around the globe.

&nbsp;However, Indian captain Kohli said he has never felt any different when his team take on Pakistan and he would like to keep things simple once again this time around. Speaking at the press conference organised by ICC ahead of the start of the tournament, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24.

"I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. &nbsp;"I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added.

The Indian skipper also revealed he has been receiving requests from friends for the tickets of the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai and that he has been turning them down.

"And right now, value of those tickets are ridiculously high and that's all I know, my friends are demanding tickets right left and centre and I am saying, 'no'. Apart from that, I don't think we can make anything extra out of this game and for us it's a game of cricket that has to be played in right spirit, in the way we know we can," Kohli said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-to-be-the-1st-player-to-be-kept-by-csk-if-retentions-are-allowed-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-report-421442">MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series between them since 2013 and meet only in major ICC events due to the political tensions between the two countries. India last met Pakistan in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England where they defeated the Men in Green.

India have not lost a World Cup match against Pakistan both in ODIs and T20Is and will be aiming to keep their winning streak intact in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has played down the hype surrounding the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli said he and his team will approach the high-profile clash against Pakistan as just another cricket match in the T20 World Cup.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has played down the hype surrounding the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2021. Kohli said he and his team will approach the high-profile clash against Pakistan as just another cricket match in the T20 World Cup. The T20 World Cup 2021 is set to kick off on October 17 in the UAE and Oman. India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24. The expectations will be high and pressure will be on both teams with millions of fans watching the game around the globe. However, Indian captain Kohli said he has never felt any different when his team take on Pakistan and he would like to keep things simple once again this time around. Speaking at the press conference organised by ICC ahead of the start of the tournament, Kohli said it will just be another cricket game for India against Pakistan on October 24. "I honestly never felt so," said Kohli when asked if playing against Pakistan is any different for him. "I have just approached this game as another game of cricket and I know there is a lot of hype around this game, more so with ticket sales and demands of tickets," he added. The Indian skipper also revealed he has been receiving requests from friends for the tickets of the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai and that he has been turning them down. "And right now, value of those tickets are ridiculously high and that's all I know, my friends are demanding tickets right left and centre and I am saying, 'no'. Apart from that, I don't think we can make anything extra out of this game and for us it's a game of cricket that has to be played in right spirit, in the way we know we can," Kohli said. Also Read: MS Dhoni to be the 1st player to be kept by CSK if retentions are allowed ahead of IPL mega auction India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series between them since 2013 and meet only in major ICC events due to the political tensions between the two countries. India last met Pakistan in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England where they defeated the Men in Green. India have not lost a World Cup match against Pakistan both in ODIs and T20Is and will be aiming to keep their winning streak intact in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Another game of cricket: Virat Kohli plays down hype ahead of India-Pakistan clash at T20 WC

From Pant's prank to Chahar’s adorable proposal to girlfriend: Top heartwarming moments from IPL 2021

Comebacks and kings: Five things we learned from Indian Premier League 2021

IPL 2021 ended in a fitting manner on Friday evening (October 15), with the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) meeting the Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

The 14th edition of the cash-rich league has been very different from all the preceding seasons as it took place in two halves, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the 14th season&nbsp;lived up to expectations despite the BCCI facing plenty of issues to complete the marquee edition in 2021. The just-concluded season saw&nbsp;many uncapped players standing tall with the bat and ball whereas some known and big names also outperformed for their respective franchises.

While Harshal Patel ended with the Purple Cap, with as many as 32 wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), CSK's Ruturaj Gaikwad&nbsp;earned the elusive Orange Cap after Dhoni &amp; Co. won their fourth championship, beating KKR by 27 runs in the finale.

Ruturaj&nbsp;ended with 636 runs at 45.35 along with a strike-rate of 136.26 following his 32 in the summit clash. His opening partner Faf du Plessis gave him a very tough fight for the cap, however, the 24-year-old youngster topped the run-scoring chart&nbsp;courtesy of a two-run lead.&nbsp;

In this way, Ruturaj has joined some elite names in the list for the Orange Cap winners. It includes some big names such as Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, David Warner (winning it thrice), KL Rahul, etc. Here's the whole Orange Cap list after&nbsp;IPL 2021:&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virender-sehwag-names-uncapped-indian-star-kkr-should-retain-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-421038">Virender Sehwag names uncapped Indian star KKR should retain ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Year</td>
			<td>Orange Cap winner</td>
			<td>Runs scored</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2008</td>
			<td>Shaun Marsh</td>
			<td>616</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2009</td>
			<td>Matthew Hayden</td>
			<td>572</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2010</td>
			<td>Sachin Tendulkar</td>
			<td>618</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2011</td>
			<td>Chris Gayle</td>
			<td>608</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2012</td>
			<td>Chris Gayle</td>
			<td>733</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2013</td>
			<td>Michael Hussey</td>
			<td>733</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2014</td>
			<td>Robin Uthappa</td>
			<td>660</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2015</td>
			<td>David Warner</td>
			<td>562</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2016</td>
			<td>Virat Kohli</td>
			<td>973</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2017</td>
			<td>David Warner</td>
			<td>641</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2018</td>
			<td>Kane Williamson</td>
			<td>735</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2019</td>
			<td>David Warner</td>
			<td>692</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2020</td>
			<td>KL Rahul</td>
			<td>670</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2021</td>
			<td>Ruturaj Gaikwad</td>
			<td>636</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-look-at-top-5-highest-and-lowest-totals-in-ipl-finals-as-csk-battle-kkr-for-elusive-trophy-420987">A look at top 5 highest and lowest totals in IPL finals as CSK battle KKR for elusive trophy</a>

Ruturaj's IPL 14 has been a breakthrough season. Returning with as many as four half-centuries and a hundred and taking on many world-class bowlers from the word go, without dropping much sweat, the CSK opener is now being touted as the next-big-thing in Indian cricket and is expected to be the future of the MS Dhoni-led franchise. Following such a season, many experts believe he will be retained by the Yellow Army ahead of the mega auction, later this year.

When he was almost confirmed to be the owner of the cap, Ruturaj told broadcasters at the halfway stage of the finale, "We did brilliantly to get to 192 by hitting some brilliant sixes. We need to bowl well and back it up with the fielding. I wanted him to hit that six (on Faf coming very close to&nbsp;surpassing him in the Orange Cap list)&nbsp;and add those six important runs."&nbsp;

For the unversed, Faf's 86 helped CSK post a competitive 192-3&nbsp;versus KKR in the season-finale. While the South African missed out on winning the elusive cap, by a whisker, his knock helped CSK defend the total by 27 runs.

IPL 2021 ended in a fitting manner on Friday evening (October 15), with the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) meeting the Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

IPL 2021 ended in a fitting manner on Friday evening (October 15), with the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) meeting the Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. The 14th edition of the cash-rich league has been very different from all the preceding seasons as it took place in two halves, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the 14th season lived up to expectations despite the BCCI facing plenty of issues to complete the marquee edition in 2021. The just-concluded season saw many uncapped players standing tall with the bat and ball whereas some known and big names also outperformed for their respective franchises. While Harshal Patel ended with the Purple Cap, with as many as 32 wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), CSK's Ruturaj Gaikwad earned the elusive Orange Cap after Dhoni & Co. won their fourth championship, beating KKR by 27 runs in the finale. Ruturaj ended with 636 runs at 45.35 along with a strike-rate of 136.26 following his 32 in the summit clash. His opening partner Faf du Plessis gave him a very tough fight for the cap, however, the 24-year-old youngster topped the run-scoring chart courtesy of a two-run lead. In this way, Ruturaj has joined some elite names in the list for the Orange Cap winners. It includes some big names such as Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, David Warner (winning it thrice), KL Rahul, etc. Here's the whole Orange Cap list after IPL 2021: ALSO READ | Virender Sehwag names uncapped Indian star KKR should retain ahead of IPL mega auction Year Orange Cap winner Runs scored 2008 Shaun Marsh 616 2009 Matthew Hayden 572 2010 Sachin Tendulkar 618 2011 Chris Gayle 608 2012 Chris Gayle 733 2013 Michael Hussey 733 2014 Robin Uthappa 660 2015 David Warner 562 2016 Virat Kohli 973 2017 David Warner 641 2018 Kane Williamson 735 2019 David Warner 692 2020 KL Rahul 670 2021 Ruturaj Gaikwad 636 ALSO READ | A look at top 5 highest and lowest totals in IPL finals as CSK battle KKR for elusive trophy Ruturaj's IPL 14 has been a breakthrough season. Returning with as many as four half-centuries and a hundred and taking on many world-class bowlers from the word go, without dropping much sweat, the CSK opener is now being touted as the next-big-thing in Indian cricket and is expected to be the future of the MS Dhoni-led franchise. Following such a season, many experts believe he will be retained by the Yellow Army ahead of the mega auction, later this year. When he was almost confirmed to be the owner of the cap, Ruturaj told broadcasters at the halfway stage of the finale, "We did brilliantly to get to 192 by hitting some brilliant sixes. We need to bowl well and back it up with the fielding. I wanted him to hit that six (on Faf coming very close to surpassing him in the Orange Cap list) and add those six important runs." For the unversed, Faf's 86 helped CSK post a competitive 192-3 versus KKR in the season-finale. While the South African missed out on winning the elusive cap, by a whisker, his knock helped CSK defend the total by 27 runs.

From Virat Kohli to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Orange Cap winners in IPL history

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