MADAN LAL, who was part of the 1983 World Cup winning Indian squad, said that no one is a clear favourite in the semi final between India and Pakistan that takes place on March 30 in Mohali.
“The semi final will be a pressure situation for both teams. The advantage is with Dhoni as he’s the captain in all three formats for India, and has more experience than Afridi who is captain only in the shorter format,” said Lal. “The team that will bowl well will win,” added Lal.
What will really make things complicated for Pakistan is if Indian bowlers manage to choke the Pakistanis during partnerships. The moment this happens Pakistani batsmen will start to worry about the formidable Indian batting line up and commit errors in trying to improve the run rate. The worst nightmare for Pakistan, therefore, will be if both bowling and batting fire on all cylinders for India.
Ajay Jadeja, former tough-nut opening and middle order batsman for India, concurred, saying that, “Every time India and Pakistan have played against each other, the encounter has produced performers who were not the usual suspects such as Tendulkar and Afridi. This match will be a match of state of minds and of nerves.”
“Also, there’s no point in playing Harbhajan with a ‘cool head’. He is best when he is aggressive. In fact, he’s of no use when he is ‘cool’,” said Jadeja, who himself blew hot and cold in his playing days.
Akash Chopra, former Indian Test opener, who still plays, and commentates, said that the match between India and Pakistan will be a “clash of equals. Indian batting is superior to that of Pakistan but the latter’s bowling on paper is better than India’s. There’s going to be a lot pressure for both teams.”
Chopra feels that the match might throw up an unusual performer from an already star-studded star cast of cricketers on both sides.
“For India the expected performers would be Tendulkar, Sehwag, Yuvraj, and Zaheer and for Pakistan the Akmal brothers, Afridi and Gul. Though I think this could very well be a match in which Gautam Gambhir will outshine others,” and said that a competitive total on the current Mohali pitch will be in the region of 270-280 runs.
While the pitch is expected to be flattish and non-controversial, Atul Wassan, former Indian medium-pacer, thinks that the pitch will not play that important a role.
“India are favourites though Pakistan have done well and clicked together in the last couple of games. Head to head India is a better team. The Indian team is combining well,” said Wassan.
Wassan, though, has a suggestion for Dhoni. “Dhoni should play Ashish Nehra and combine him with Harbhajan.”
Correctly calling an India-Pakistan match will put anybody in a fix – pun unintended – but this is how Jadeja, Wassan, Lal, and Chopra rated as India’s chances against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Jadeja - 100 per cent that India will win
Wassan - 70:30 in favour of India. The dew factor will come into play for the team batting second.
Chopra - 70:30 in favour of India, and if India bats first it will be 80:20 in favour of India.
Lal - 50:50
Whatever pundits and punters (Ricky has already put his vote in India’s favour) might say, there are two X or 'ex-' factors that may become decisive factors – the inclusion of a fired-up Shoib Akhtar, dying to avenge all previous maulings, and the steel in the eyes of Sachin Tendulkar who has set his eyes on the Cup that he will want to raise to toast his team’s vistory.
Check here for>>> Cricket Live Score Card, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
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