India, Feb. 15 -- The India-Pakistan rivalry needs no introduction. But beyond the noise and theatre lies a tactical truth: these matches are decided by which team dictates the tempo. In this World Cup, Abhishek Sharma represents India's most potent weapon - not because he is their best batter; but because he possesses the rare ability to transform Pakistan's strategic blueprint into crisis management.

Pakistan's approach in the tournament has centered around structural control so far. New-ball aggression followed by spin-based suffocation through the middle overs. This isn't merely theoretical - it is evident in their team selection. Naseem Shah, a premium quick, hasn't featured in either of their opening matches. When you consistently ...