I hope Pakistan stand up and compete: Sourav Ganguly

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India’s Virat Kohli(R)and former captain Saurav Ganguly share a light moment during a training session. / AFP / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has dismissed Pakistan’s chances of winning against India on Sunday. Pakistan have done splendidly well in the last three games to reach the final of the eight-nation tournament but looked like a different team when they played India a few days ago at Edgbaston where they lost by 124 runs.

India, on the other hand, have had a string of comfortable wins against No. 1 ranked South Africa and then against Bangladesh on Thursday. They will play their 4th final on Sunday and look good to win consecutive titles. India’s top order has been in excellent form which has not let the likes of Dhoni, Jadhav and Pandya to get time in the middle. Ganguly highlighted that Pakistan looks a different team against India and vice versa against the heavyweight teams in world cricket.

‘Pakistan tensed against India’

“I just get a feeling that sometimes when they play India, either they are too worked up, they don’t stand a chance,” Ganguly said to India Today

“The Pakistan I saw against South Africa, Sri Lanka and even England, it’s not the Pakistan I see against India. I don’t know how there can be such a big difference between a side in a matter of one day or one game,” Ganguly added.

India’s batting has always been good but it is the bowling attack which has helped them restrict sides to reasonable totals. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have been phenomenal with the ball both early in the innings as well as the death.

“India are too far ahead. They have looked a solid team. No holes, no weaknesses in this Indian side. Yes in the past it was like, India have a strong batting line-up but the fast bowling people would say India are not good enough to pick wickets but Indian fast bowling has just been superb.”   Ganguly said he felt that the final would be a one-sided affair with the Indian team shining bright yet again.

Speaking of the final, Ganguly feared that it will be another lopsided encounter between India and Pakistan. In the former captain’s opinion, a final should be a tight game where the match oscillates from one team to another.

“I’m just a little worried that the final may go the same way (India’s tournament opener against Pakistan.

“I hope it’s a great final because you expect world titles to be fought very hard and I hope Pakistan stand up and compete,” Ganguly said.

Both teams looking to chase

The elegant left-hander pointed out that they only way Pakistan can get past India is to repeat the bowling performance of the England encounter, where Pakistan bowled first and restricted the hosts to 211.

“They need to bowl the way they have. For them, if they have to win the game, they have to restrict India to 250, either way, batting first or bowling first and that’s the only way they can win this game.

“So from that point of view, the only positive that Sarfraz has is their bowlers have done a remarkable job. Mohammed Amir will hopefully be back after the back spasm. Although the new kid Ruman Raees did exceptionally well in his first game and that’s what I said, they’ll just have to turn up and bowl exactly the way they did against England, the other day at Cardiff.”

India are more comfortable chasing a target and Pakistan have adopted the same strategy in this event. Both teams have used the early assistance to their advantage with the ball. This makes the toss very significant.

“Pakistan will also go the India way, win the toss and chase because they want to bowl first and restrict the opposition as they are a good bowling unit. Virat Kohli wants to go the same way.”

India indeed are firm favourites but must not get complacent. Pakistan has to be mentally strong if they plan to beat India in the finals.

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