The marquee T20 World Cup 2021 is just a few months away. The tournament will witness high-voltage games among the top sides in the world. One of the matches that fans are getting excited to watch is between India and Pakistan. Meanwhile former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels that India is a superior side to Babar Azam’s Pakistan.
Virat Kohli-led India will go against Babar Azam-led Pakistan on 24 October at the Dubai International Stadium. Notably, this will be the first time when Virat Kohli will face off Babar Azam the captain.
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While talking about T20 World Cup on Star Sports show Game Plan, Gautam Gambhir stated people are expecting a lot from Pakistan. However, he pinpointed that currently, Team India is far more superior side than Pakistan. Also, he further added that in T20 any team can pull the upset, still, Pakistan will be under pressure. Gambhir asserted:
“Expectations are going to be really high from Pakistan as well, and at the moment, if you see, India is far more superior to Pakistan. Yes, in a T20 format, anyone can beat anyone because it is a very individual kind of format, and we should not take any team for granted. For example, you should not take Afghanistan for granted. People like Rashid Khan can create upsets. It’s the same with Pakistan. But, yes, there will be pressure on Pakistan,”
Gambhir further talked about team Afghanistan and said they can’t be taken lightly in the T20 World Cup event. Former India opener said:
“You can’t take Afghanistan lightly as well. I have always been a believer that if you want to talk about one team that is going to be a real underdog in this tournament, that must be Afghanistan. Additionally, they have got people like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb, and Mohd Nabi, you can’t take them lightly,” he added.
“Group 1 is the group of death”: Gautam Gambhir
The Group 1 of T20 WC 2021 contains teams like England, Australia, West Indies, and South Africa. Many experts have named Group 1 as a group of death and Gautam Gambhir is one of them.
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“Group 1 is the group of death, and that’s actually the real group. You’ve got four teams locked in and playing what, on day one of the T20 World Cup, that’s going to be a very exciting Saturday,” said Gambhir.
Gautam Gambhir believes that West Indies is a very unpredictable side and they can win their third title this year. Also, he labeled England as the ‘most consistent white-ball team’. Gambhir also discussed about Australia and opined they have gone a little off the track recently.
“West Indies have always been very unpredictable with the kind of firepower they’ve got — they can go on to win the third time as well. England has also got the firepower; they have probably got the most consistent white-ball team over the last couple of years — after winning the 50-over World Cup.
“Australia has literally gone off the radar, probably because a lot of main players are missing, but then again, I think they can be very dangerous on that particular day,” he added.