India vs Pakistan: India and Pakistan are set to renew their cricketing rivalry on Sunday in a crucial Group A clash of the Champions Trophy. Former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad shared his insights ahead of the game, acknowledging India’s current dominance while cautioning that Pakistan could pose a challenge if they manage to take early wickets.
With Pakistan facing a must-win situation after their defeat to New Zealand, the stakes are high. India, on the other hand, head into the match with momentum following their six-wicket victory over Bangladesh. While historically, encounters between the two sides have been unpredictable, India’s recent form makes them the clear favourites.
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Shehzad highlighted that Pakistan’s best chance lies in disrupting India’s top order early. “India’s top four must bat for 35-40 overs. If they lose three wickets within the first 15 overs, the game could change, as India’s middle order relies heavily on all-rounders,” he explained. The trio of Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja provides depth, but Shehzad believes that specialist batters are crucial in ODIs.
“If Pakistan land the first punch and remove key Indian batters like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer early, they will be in a strong position,” Shehzad remarked.
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However, he also issued a word of caution, suggesting that a big innings from Virat Kohli might be on the horizon. “His 52 against England in tough conditions showed that he’s finding rhythm. He has a history of delivering in big matches, as we saw last time against Pakistan,” Shehzad noted.
As anticipation builds, all eyes will be on this high-voltage encounter, which could prove decisive for Pakistan’s campaign in the tournament.
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