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Winning toss will be advantageous in India-Pak Clash, experts say
Both Navjot Sidhu and Harbhajan Singh agreed that “toss” would be an important factor. The team winning the toss would have an added advantage, they asserted.
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It is going to be the “match of the tournament” where the toss will play an important role, says former Test cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu. His viewpoint is corroborated by his colleague, Harbhajan Singh. The team winning the toss would have an added advantage, they asserted.
“India has a distinct advantage as it has played a couple of games on this surface with uneven bounce. India scored more than 180 runs in a friendly against Bangladesh before the start of the T20 World Cup. It then recorded a comfortable eight-wicket win over Ireland with more than seven overs to spare."
“On the other hand, Pakistan will play its first match on this surface. And it comes here after suffering a shock defeat at the hands of the hosts and T20 World Cup debutants, the USA,” says Navjot Sidhu.
But he warns that Pakistan is like Mercury, which begins to rise as the temperature rises. Historically, Pakistan keeps improving its performance as the tournament grows older. Harbhajan also shares his views, saying that India has an edge over its rival and neighbour Pakistan. India has a long batting order that is supported by a strong bowling line-up.
While Harbhajan Singh put his bets on batsman Surya Kumar as a player to watch with superb hitting skills, Navjot opined that it is “Bum Bum” Jaspreet Bumrah who will call shots with his immaculate bowling on this bouncy and uneven track.
The morale of the Indian team is high as it had a comfortable win in its opener. The team is well-rested and ready to go. Further, the Indians come here after an IPL season and are in great nick. Pakistan, on the other hand, as Navjot Sidhu puts it, has been in isolation. “Unless you play all formats of cricket, you cannot compete against teams that are playing the highest level of the game the year round,” adds Navjot Sidhu.
On the other hand, says Harbhajan Singh, not many people would remember any recent performances by Pakistani players in this format of cricket. They both agreed that Pakistan has its own set of problems and now that the Champions Trophy is going to Pakistan, the game may get a fillip.
Indian batters and bowlers have been raring to go as they have been looking for an ICC Trophy for a long time. The last time they won the T20 World Cup was in its inaugural edition in 2007. Though India played host to the 2023 ODI World Cup, it lost the final to Australia, and its desire to get an ICC Trophy in its showcase did not materialize.
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