Pakistan vs India Group A Betting Tips – India Hold Edge In Blockbuster Clash

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• India Team News

The blockbuster is upon us: Pakistan vs India at an ICC event. The pressure is on already, particularly for Pakistan after they lost the Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand at home in disappointing fashion.

India put away Bangladesh in clinical fashion but there were occasions where they didn’t look the part, often evidenced by sloppy fielding. Yet, India will take two points and some confidence away on a tricky surface that often was two-paced in nature.

An India vs Pakistan match often comes with more than just the result riding on it. In this case, you can safely say that it’s a must-win for Pakistan. If Pakistan lose and New Zealand beat Bangladesh on Monday (which is a very likely result), then the hosts will be eliminated after just two matches.

India, on the other hand, will welcome the challenge. They have dominated Pakistan on the big stage in most of their recent games. However, if we look back eight years, it was Pakistan that looked too good for India in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval. The intensity is high, the pressure is on, billions will be tuning in as usual and a spot in the semi-finals on the line: it’s all to play for as both nations step out in Dubai.

Pakistan Form

Pakistan challenged New Zealand but were woeful with the bat for the majority of that innings. Pakistan had New Zealand on the mat at 73 for 3 but allowed them to score a mammoth 320 for 5, led by hundreds from Will Young and Tom Latham. Apar from Abrar Ahmed, not many Pakistan bowlers showed any incisiveness.

With the bat, it was Pakistan’s lack of intent that came to the fore as they huffed and puffed their way to 128 for 5 in the 32nd over. By then, the game was all but done despite Khushdil Shah’s 69 off 49 balls. Babar Azam scored 64 off 90 balls with six fours and one six in an atypically laboured knock.

Pakistan Team News

Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the remainder of the Champions Trophy. Imam Ul Haq has been called up as his replacement. It’s likely that he’ll slot straight in to the opening slot to partner Babar.

India Form

India started the Champions Trophy in excellent fashion with Mohammad Shami, Harshit Rana and Axar Patel all but killing the game in the first 10 overs as they had Bangladesh at 35 for 5. Axar took two wickets in two balls and should have had a hat-trick but Rohit Sharma dropped a regulation catch at first slip.

Bangladesh found their way to a respectable score of 228 but that wasn’t anywhere near enough despite the Dubai pitch slowing down considerably. Shami finished with figures of 5 for 53 while Rana picked up 3 for 31.

With the bat, Rohit Sharma helped India to a quick start as he raced away to 41 off just 36 balls. India’s batters then slowed down as they milked the bowling in the middle overs on a surface that started to turn a lot more as the match progressed.

Shubman Gill continued his run of excellent form with 101 off 129 balls with nine fours and two sixes. KL Rahul helped India complete the chase with relative comfort as he finished with an unbeaten 41 off 47 balls with one four and two sixes.

India Team News

India will debate two changes: whether Arshdeep Singh gets a game and if Kuldeep Yadav needs to be swapped for Varun Chakravarthy. Neither of those changes will be hasty, they will depend on conditions and India’s ideal combination specific to Pakistan’s batting.