Asia Cup 2023: Ravi Shastri names favourites to win in IND vs PAK Group A clash

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has said that Pakistan narrowed the gap between two teams.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri suffered a massive setback against Pakistan in his last tournament with Indian cricket team. Pakistan decimated India for the first time in any World Cup event in 2021. Pakistan defeated India by a huge margin of 10 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai. This unexpected defeat caused India’s group-stage exit from T20 World Cup for the first time. Both teams are set to meet each other in a ODIs after four years at Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Ravi Shastri will be watching the game from the sidelines in the commentary box, he has predicted the winner of this high-voltage contest.

Ravi Shastri calls India favourite

Ravi Shastri has said that Pakistan have improved in a better way and will challenge Indian cricket team. Ravi Shastri said, "I would say India starts as a favourite. This is their strongest team since 2011, with this mix of players and a seasoned captain who understands the terrain better than most. Having said that, Pakistan narrowed the gap. 7-8 years ago, there was a gap if you looked at the strengths of both teams and man-to-man. But Pakistan narrowed it down. They are a very good side, so you have to be on top of your game." Pakistan have challenged India nicely in the last 2–3 years in T20I format.

The former Indian coach also highlighted that the current form of a player becomes secondary as temperament becomes the big factor in such a big game. Shastri said, "That’s what's important, keeping calm and treating it as just another game. And not overhype it in your mind, which makes you think differently. Your game has to be the same as it would be in any other game. But because of that subconscious pressure, it’s the mentally tough guys who normally get it right." The intensity remains really high during an India vs Pakistan encounter in cricket as the crowd expectation goes up to billions of people.

There is a possibility of three India vs Pakistan clashes before the upcoming World Cup in India. After the league game on September 2, these two teams will most likely meet again on September 10 at R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo in the super 4 round. If these two manage to maintain their campaign on a high note, India and Pakistan may again meet in Asia Cup final on September 17 in Colombo. Pakistan have begun their Asia Cup campaign well after decimating Nepal by 238 runs in game one in Multan.