Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly feels India vs Pakistan matches haven’t lived up to the hype in the recent World Cups whereas he feels India vs Australia tends to be a better game. In the 2019 World Cup, India comprehensively defeated Pakistan by 89 runs (DLS method) at Old Trafford, Manchester.
In fact, India has a 7-0 advantage against Pakistan in ODI World Cup matches. On the other hand, India bested Australia by 36 runs in the 2019 World Cup in the league stage.
Meanwhile, India and Pakistan played a thrilling at the MCG in the 2022 T20 World Cup as the former won by four wickets after Virat Kohli scored 82 runs to take his team to an emphatic win. However, Pakistan won against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup game convincingly by 10 wickets.
Sourav Ganguly said on Star Sports, “There is a lot of hype in this match but the quality has not been that good for a long time because India kept on winning one-sided. Pakistan probably defeated India for the first time in the T20 World Cup in Dubai.”
The former Indian skipper added: “India did not play well in that tournament but according to me, India vs Australia tends to be a better game in the World Cup because the quality is better.”
Ganguly added the current Pakistan team is also good and it will be a good contest between these two teams.
“This Pakistan team is also good and the match will be good. Pakistan becomes a good team on flat wickets because their batters use those conditions well. They have fast bowlers who use the conditions.”
“Wherever there is seam or swing, because their quality of batting has been good in the past, I can’t say what will happen going forward, India always used to march ahead. It will always be a big game. The conditions will also be important.”
India will begin their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia at Chennai on October 8 whereas the hosts will take on arch-rivals Pakistan on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
