"We used to call Pakistan the old enemy but..." - Sunil Gavaskar warns India ahead of Super 8 stage

After a strong start to their campaign in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, India will be looking to extend their fine run in the competition.

Team India have qualified for the Super 8s by winning their three of their four group games while the other game was washed out. The Rohit Sharma-led side began its campaign with an 8-wicket win over Ireland before beating Pakistan by 6 runs while defending a modest 119 runs.

In their third game, India beat the USA by seven wickets to book their place in the Super 8s. Their final group game against Canada was abandoned without a ball being bowled. In the Super 8s, India will be facing Afghanistan, Australia, and the Netherlands or Bangladesh. 

Sunil Gavaskar's warning for Team India:

With India all set to launch their Super 8s campaign, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has fired them a timely warning. The former cricketer-turned-commentator reminded the Indian team that they will be facing their 'old enemy' Australia in their last Super 8s game and it could be the game that could make or break the campaign for Rohit Sharma & Co.

"The final match which could actually be the make or break game for India happens to be against what you now call the 'old enemy', Australia. We used to call Pakistan the old enemy but Australia on the cricket field have been India's enemy for a long time," said Sunil Gavaskar on Star Sports.

"I use the word enemy in the nicest possible way not in a negative way. They have given India the maximum problems. In recent times, they are the team that India want to win against," he added.

Sunil Gavaskar also said that the Indian team will have better conditions for batting in the Caribbeans after their struggles in New York. The drop-in pitch in New York made life difficult for batters of all the teams as none of the teams could touch the 140-run mark. However, Gavaskar believes the batsmen will find it easy to score runs in the Caribbean pitches.

"It will be a lot easier for batting than the New York surfaces. The Barbados pitch is generally a very, very good pitch to bat on," said Gavaskar.

"There might be just a little bit of turn. I think we are talking too much about the spin but the spin happens mainly in Trinidad and Guyana, not so much in Barbados, not so much in Antigua. And I am not sure about the pitch at St Lucia," he added.

Will #TeamIndia make the most of their conditions during the Super 8? 🤔

Make-or-break against 'old enemies' Australia in the super rivalry? Here's what #SunilGavaskar thinks!🙌

Next Up for the Blues: #INDvAFG | THU, 20th JUNE, 6 PM | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/L2SdXSn8ZN

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 16, 2024

India will be taking on Afghanistan in Barbados in their first Super 8s game before locking horns against the Netherlands or Bangladesh in Antigua. In their third and last Super 8s game, India will be taking on Australia in St Lucia.