Sourav Ganguly, BCCI president, and former India captain, believes there’s a “huge possibility” of the inaugural 2007 T20I World Cup winners India extending their World Cup hot streak over Pakistan to 13-0 on Sunday, 24th October. The arch-rivals will meet in Dubai for the high-octane T20 World Cup 2021 clash, starting at 7:30 PM IST.
Sourav Ganguly said the presence of several match-winners in the Indian team makes them favourites to win. He, however, also remarked that Pakistan has also “one or two players” who can give India a hard time, so winning the “mental battle” will also be important for both teams.
Sourav Ganguly: There’s A Huge Possibility Of 13-0 Happening As India Are Expected To Extend Their Unbeaten Streak Against Pakistan
India and Pakistan are both looking to win the tournament for the second time in their history, having won the trophy in 2007 and 2009, respectively. India-Pakistan faced each other last in the 2019 ODI World Cup round-robin stage, where the former won by 89 runs (DLS method).
Their last T20 World Cup face-off resulted in India’s 6-wicket win over Men in Green in Kolkata in the 2016 edition. It’s worth noting that Pakistan is yet to beat their arch-rivals India in a World Cup game in 12 encounters across the T20I and 50-over editions.
The former cricketer said: “Yes there is a huge possibility of 13-0 happening and India extending their unbeaten streak against Pakistan in this World Cup. All the players in this Indian team are genuine match-winners and fingers crossed, this team can finally end our 10 years wait of winning a world cup. Pakistan is also a good team. If one or two players click, then anything can happen. To win the mental battle is important. I feel it will be a great match!”
Pakistan has never defeated India in a World Cup match, despite getting as many as seven opportunities in the ODI format and five in T20Is. The last time these two teams met was in the 2019 ODI World Cup, where India trounced Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side by 89 runs via the DLS method.
Sourav Ganguly: It’s Not Like That India Will Win Every Time
Sourav Ganguly also defended the Indian team, who hasn’t won an ICC event since 2013 (Champions Trophy), saying they won’t “win every time”. He argued that India has reached knockouts in every recent tournament like World Cup 2019 and is strong enough to create chances to play in the finals consistently.
Sourav Ganguly added: “Its not like that India will win every time. It is only natural that there will be gaps between World Cup wins. India won the World Cup in 2011, as well as in 2007. We played the final in 2003 and 2014. Even in 2017, we played Champions Trophy final but lost to Pakistan. Indian cricket is so strong that we will keep getting chances to play the final. Even this year we are hopeful. India is a big contender, but fingers crossed.”
This is also the first time Virat Kohli and Babar Azam will take on each other in an international match as captains. While Virat Kohli has already announced the 2021 edition of T20I WC is his last tournament as a T20I captain, Babar Azam’s journey has just started, which gives that much more context to an already exciting encounter.
Pakistan, on Saturday, announced their 12-man squad for the India clash in Dubai. The Pakistan team management had decided to include senior and experienced cricketers in the playing XI for much of the T20 World Cup, including the blockbuster India vs Pakistan clash scheduled to take place on October 24 (Sunday). From the 15-man complete squad, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sarfaraz Ahmed did not make the cut.
The 12 men who remain in contention are Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf.