India vs. Pakistan, World T20: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

After contrasting results at the start of the ICC World Twenty20, Saturday's Group 2 clash between India and Pakistan is about much more than just silencing the neighbours.

The tournament hosts go into the game in Kolkata, India, desperately needing to bounce back from a surprise defeat at the hands of New Zealand on Tuesday. A second successive loss for MS Dhoni's team would leave them in serious danger of missing out on the semi-finals.

Pakistan, meanwhile, opened their campaign with a convincing win over Bangladesh. Shahid Afridi's side can now push their rivals to the brink of an earlier-than-expected exit.

The game at Eden Gardens will be the first time the teams have met in a T20 international on Indian soil since Dec. 28, 2012. India won by 11 runs on that occasion—they desperately need a repeat result in 2016.

Date: Saturday, March 19

Time: 7:30 p.m. local (2 p.m. GMT / 10 a.m. ET)

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India

Live Stream and TV Info: Channel 9 and Fox Sports (Australia), Ariana TV Network (Afghanistan), BTV (Bangladesh), ESPN Star and Star Sports (India), SkySports NZ (New Zealand), Sky Sports 2 (UK), Willow TV (subscription, USA and Canada), PTV Sports and Ten Sports (Pakistan), SuperSport (South Africa), OSN Sports (Middle East)

Weather: According to AccuWeather.com, there is a 60 per cent chance of a thunderstorm hitting Eden Gardens. Still, despite the threat of rain, the temperature will be around 35 degrees Celsius.

Overview

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Heading into the World T20, India had won 10 out of 11 games in the shortest format. Pakistan, in contrast, had won just three of their last 10.

Yet the form guide counted for nothing in the opening two fixtures in Group 2.

India were embarrassed by the Black Caps in Nagpur. On a turning surface, a nation known for having a conveyor belt of slow bowlers fell apart to three spinners from New Zealand.

The trio of Nathan McCullum, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi claimed nine wickets between them to see the home team—who were only chasing a target of 127—bowled out for 79 in 18.1 overs.

India's team management must now decide whether to keep faith with the same XI after such a horror show. If there is to be a change, it is most likely to be in the batting order.

Yuvraj Singh has managed a top score of 35 in eight knocks since returning to the international fold for the T20 series in Australia in January. Ajinkya Rahane is waiting in the wings, although this is not a time to make panic calls after one bad result.

India must remember they bowled Pakistan out for just 83 in their last meeting, at the Asia Cup in Bangladesh on Feb. 27.

However, Pakistan looked a much-improved outfit in their World T20 opener on Wednesday, as they thrashed Bangladesh by 55 runs at Eden Gardens.

Skipper Afridi played a starring role in the win. He smashed 49 from just 19 deliveries in his side's total of 201 for five—their second highest T20 total, per Bharath Seervi of ESPN Cricinfo—before picking up two for 27 with his leg-spin.

The veteran all-rounder's performance was a timely one, following the recent furore over his comments about playing in India.

On his arrival in the country for the ICC event, Afridi said, according to ESPN Cricinfo: "I am in the last stage of my career and I can say that the love I have got in India is something that I will always remember. We have not got this much love even from Pakistan."

His words did not go down well back home, and the 36-year-old quickly moved to clarify the situation. Per Cricket Australia, he insisted he was only trying to be positive, adding: "I did not mean to say that someone is dear to me more than Pakistan’s people. My identity and everything I have belong to Pakistan."

Pakistan supporters will forgive Afridi if he leads his team to victory at Eden Gardens. The volatile fixture was initially due to take place in Dharamsala but was moved for security reasons, per ESPN Cricinfo.

Key Players

India

The key contest is between India's star-studded batting lineup and Pakistan's plethora of left-arm seamers. With that in mind, Virat Kohli will be the wicket Afrid and his fellow bowlers value the most.

The right-hander has a T20 average of 66.33 against Pakistan, and he has already scored 375 runs in the shortest format in the calendar year.

Pakistan

While Pakistan were soundly beaten by India at the Asia Cup, Mohammad Amir did offer a brief glimmer of hope with three wickets in the first 10 deliveries of an impressive opening spell.

The left-arm seamer started his World T20 campaign in fine form, too. He picked up two for 27 from his four overs in the comfortable win over Bangladesh.

Squads

India

MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pawan Negi, Mohammed Shami, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Harbhajan Singh, Hardik Pandya.

Pakistan

Shahid Afridi (capt), Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Umar Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shehzad.

All stats used in the preview are from ESPN Cricinfo