India vs. Pakistan: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Cricket World Cup 2015 Preview

It doesn't get much bigger, in cricketing terms, than a clash between Pakistan and India.

Subcontinent neighbours and archrivals, the two teams face off in Adelaide on Sunday on the biggest ODI stage of them all, the World Cup.

With each side coming into their opening Pool B encounter in somewhat inconsistent form, it is very difficult to call a winner.

But with the atmosphere set to be electric at the Adelaide Oval, drama is all but guaranteed in only the fourth match of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Read on for all the necessary details ahead of a hotly anticipated matchup.

Date: Sunday, Feb. 15

Time: 2 p.m. local, 3:30 a.m. GMT

TV Info: Live on Sky Sports 2 (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Go

Preview

Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

India are the defending world champions but do not look likely to repeat the trick Down Under after their 2011 triumph on home soil.

They have struggled recently in ODIs, losing three of four matches in the recent Tri-Series with Australia and England—the other was abandoned—before finally picking up a victory in Tuesday's warm-up match against minnows Afghanistan.

However, in official matches, they have not picked up a single victory since touching down on Australian soil in November 2014 ahead of a tour that was supposed to be the perfect World Cup preparation.

A clash with Pakistan, though, could be exactly what the Indians need to turn their form around.

The likes of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are more than capable of piling on the runs, while India's World Cup record against Pakistan is faultless—they have won the five previous meetings between the two sides in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2011.

Equally, opener Rohit Sharma looks to have found form at the right time after a brilliant knock against Afghanistan, per ICC:

India should have no trouble making it out of Pool B and through to the knockout rounds but an opening victory over Pakistan would be a huge boost to their confidence, and it could push them on toward a strong showing in the tournament.

However, Pakistan pose a difficult proposition—as always—and, while certainly not flying, they are in better form than their Adelaide opponents.

Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq's unbeaten 91 on Wednesday saw Pakistan to a tight but impressive win over England, following on from a three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their first warm-up game.

Coach Waqar Younis pointed to the value of finding some form ahead of the tournament's start after the England win, per Reuters' Nick Mulvenney (h/t Daily Mail):

"

We needed momentum, we didn't really play any really good cricket in the recent past. So the momentum and the confidence we got from these last two games will definitely help. India has always been a tough opponent so we're not going to take it easy. We're going to make sure we wake up on that morning in a positive frame of mind and look to win this time.

"

Pakistan's bowling attack is somewhat inexperienced, but in Misbah, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi they have veteran ODI players to add balance.

Afridi could be a key man for Pakistan with his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, while Younis needs to step up after a poor run of form, per PakPassion.net's Saj Sadiq:

According to The Australian (h/t Press Trust of India, via NDTV Sports), Sunday's match is expected to be the most widely viewed clash in the history of the game, with more than one billion people set to tune in. 

The importance placed on the fixture cannot be overstated for those invested, and it is likely to be a tight encounter with neither side in the greatest of form.

As for calling a winner, it is a hugely difficult task but now looks as good a time as any for Pakistan to break their World Cup hoodoo against India.