Billion viewers will watch rivals battle it out

IT has been estimated that close to one billion viewers will watch bitter rivals India and Pakistan face off at a packed Oval today.

That would dwarf global viewing figures of 325million (201m in India alone) for the game between the teams two weeks ago.

It would compare with the TV audience when India beat Pakistan in the group stages of the 2015 World Cup at Adelaide.

India hold the historical advantage in the knockout stage of world tournaments, having beaten Pakistan in each of three meetings so far, and there is sure to be a carnival atmosphere.