T20 World Cup 2021, India vs Pakistan: I Don't Look At Either Team As A Favourite: Sunil Gavaskar

Indian legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar said that no team between India and Pakistan is the favourite to win, and anything can happen in T20 cricket.

India and Pakistan will lock horns with each other after more than five years in T20I cricket when they play their first game of the Super 12 stage on October 24 in Dubai.

Nothing is too difficult in T20 cricket: Sunil Gavaskar

Pakistan has never won against India and has lost five times against them in the T20 World Cup.

But Gavaskar believes that the team which will handle the pressure in a better way will trounce in the upcoming match.

“Nothing is too difficult in T20 cricket. In Test matches, you can say stuff like the attack not being good enough or the pitches not being to a certain team’s strengths but not for T20 cricket,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“So I don’t look at either team as a favourite. The team that handles the pressure well on the day, the team that can control its mistakes, like no balls, can do well,” he added.

No balls in your control: Sunil Gavaskar

India’s history of bowling no-balls in big matches is a bit of embarrassment to their defeats.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a no-ball in the ICC Champions trophy against Fakhar Zaman; a ball had dismissed him.

Even in the semi-final match against West Indies, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya bowled no-balls to Lendl Simmons, who was out on both occasions.

In both instances, India lost the matches as the batters that were given reprieves went on to hurt them.

Gavaskar said that no-balls are in players’ control, and they should be careful else it costs them the match.

“We hear players saying they want to improve things that are in their control. No balls are in your control. First of all, you are giving a run away. Maybe you might even take a wicket,” Gavaskar mentioned.

Pakistan won their first warm-up game against defending champions West Indies but lost to South Africa in a nail-biting run-chase in the next match.

Meanwhile, India turned out to be victorious against England and Australia in both of their warm-up matches.

Also Read: Would Love To See India Play Pakistan In T20 World Cup Final, Says Sunil Gavaskar