Kohli vs Amir, Rohit vs Afridi: Five India vs Pakistan match-ups to watch

Al Jazeera breaks down five crucial bowler vs batter battles in the India-Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup 2024.

India and Pakistan have made vastly different starts to their ICC T20 World Cup campaigns but both teams come face to face on a tricky New York pitch in their crucial clash at the Nassau County Stadium on Sunday.

When the tournament’s schedule was announced six months ago, June 9 was marked in calendars by cricket fans in both countries and around the world.

Now, it’s here.

Both teams boast some of the leading cricketers in the world and have produced memorable battles over the years. Once again, their skills will be to the fore as their fans watch in awe.

Al Jazeera looks at some of the key batter vs bowler battles that have the potential to define the contest:

Innings: 6 (ODIs and T20Is)
Runs: 52
Balls: 62
Dismissals: 3
Strike Rate: 83.9
Average: 17.3
Last face-off: 6 runs in 6 balls at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has long been driven by the duel between Indian batters against Pakistani fast bowlers and Rohit versus Afridi is its latest version.

Afridi’s searing in-swinging deliveries with the new ball make facing him a daunting prospect. Rohit had his first taste of it in the T20 World Cup 2021, when he was trapped in front on the first-ever ball he faced from Afridi in the shortest format.

Rohit managed four runs off five balls from Afridi in their next meeting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the T20 World Cup 2022.

Their rivalry has stretched into one-day internationals (ODI) and Afridi has dismissed Rohit in two of the last three matches between India and Pakistan.

Afridi’s pace and skills on a spicy New York pitch that has offered fast bowlers exaggerated bounce