IND vs PAK: Shane Watson predicts the winner of the high-voltage clash

Published - 09 Jun 2024, 01:27 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 11:47 PM

Shane Watson, Ravi Ashwin and Virat Kohli
Shane Watson, Ravi Ashwin and Virat Kohli (Credits: X)

Former Aussie cricketer Shane Watson has given a massive prediction that India are going to crush Pakistan in their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Group A match.

The two teams will be locking horns against each other for the 8th time in this competition with the Indians having a superior record over Pakistanis. While the Men in Blue have won 6 matches, including their previous meeting at the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Men in Green have won only once.

That victory had come during the 2021 T20 WC edition in UAE wherein Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had guided Pakistan to a 10-wicket victory. Next year in 2022, Virat Kohli showed levels as he stood in the crease from start to end to help India get their revenge over their arch-rivals following that one-sided victory.

Shane Watson says India's and Pakistan's forms are opposite

Shane Watson took to X (formerly Twitter) and spoke about his views on the latest match-up between India and Pakistan. The former All-rounder started by highlighting both of the team's forms ahead of their second Group A match. While the Indians won against Ireland in their WC opener, the Pakistanis lost to co-hosts USA in the most humiliating manner.

Babar Azam's side had made way too many mistakes and the match was eventually decided on Super Over where the United States won by 5 runs. Therefore, Shane Watson believes Pakistan's form is not how they would have wanted it to be and thus he believes that India will register a massive win.

"India, they have had a nice start to the Men's T20 World Cup, beating Ireland by 8-wickets. And Pakistan unfortunately, haven't started well, losing to the USA in the Super Over. So the form of Pakistan going in this game is not what they want at all. So my prediction for this game is that India are going to get up and for two reasons, a couple of reasons in particular." - Watson said on his latest X video post.

Watson names two Indian players to watch out for tonight

Shane Watson then spoke about the conditions that are going to be in play for tonight's high-octane clash. Watson admitted that the surface in New York is very challenging, for the batters in particular. And he believes that former India captain Virat Kohli will rise to the occasion and score runs through his immaculate and correct batting technique.

From the bowling front, Watson feels that Jasprit Bumrah is going to make a huge impact with his pace bowling and take some help from the surface itself.

"The wicket in New York, the pitch is challenging for sure, for the batters in particular. So I believe Virat Kohli is going to score runs because he's technically so correct and always manages his way through those conditions. Jasprit Bumrah will have a huge impact with his bowling on that wicket, there's enough on that surface." - Shane Watson concluded.

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Shane Watson India National Cricket Team Pakistan national cricket team Virat Kohli ICC T20 World Cup India vs Pakistan IND vs PAK