IND vs PAK: "India Can Win Four Matches Even If They Lose One Match To Pakistan or South Africa" - Former Indian Captain Sunil Gavaskar

The first round of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 concluded on Friday, with four teams qualifying for the Super 12 stages. Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have qualified for Group-A, while Zimbabwe and Ireland have joined India in Group B.

Team India will enter the mega tournament as one of the top contenders with a strong and balanced squad. The Rohit Sharma-led team will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne on Sunday, October 23.

India will now have ‘weaker’ opponents against whom they can compensate for a potential loss to Pakistan or South Africa. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that the Indian team is looking a lot better ahead of the marquee event. He believed that having teams like the West Indies or Sri Lanka would have raised the temperature.

India Can Win Four Matches Even If They Lose One Match To Pakistan or South Africa – Sunil Gavaskar

“I think it’s looking a lot better. A lot better because if Sri Lanka or the West Indies had qualified to be in India’s group, they would have been the ‘banana peel’ opponents. Sri Lanka after having won the Asia Cup would have been high on confidence. And with the West Indies when they turn up there is no surprise. You know, these two teams coming in India’s group is a big plus as far as India is concerned,” he told Sports Today.

“Even if India win four of the matches of the five they are playing in Super 12, so even if they lose one match to Pakistan or South Africa, then they still qualify and playing Netherlands and Zimbabwe give them a much better opportunity than say West Indies or Sri Lanka,” he said.

The weather continues to be a factor in the match between India and Pakistan. It is worrying that the weather has not improved even a day before India’s match against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Also read: IND vs PAK: “I Don’t Agree With, When You Have Had Your Match Washed Out”- Former Indian Captain Sunil Gavaskar Lashes Out At Men In Blue For Optional Practice Sessions