T20: Pakistan hold edge in bowling

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It’s time for Super Sunday as India play Pakistan in a very important clash.

India-Pakistan clashes create a lot of attention in any case but considering India’s future in this World Cup will depend on this game, the interest and importance of this match will attain different heights both in India and Pakistan.

Both the teams have played a game in the Super 8’s and Pakistan did very well to get past South Africa from a position of nowhere.

They were down and out in that game till Umar Gul and Umar Akmal played out of their skins to help their team win. I wasn’t surprised with Gul’s effort because I have seen him do that before in T20.

Pakistan have a good balance with the bat and the ball and the spinners in their ranks are world class. The biggest difference between the Indian and Pakistani team is the quality of bowling.

India has been in good form in the competition with their wins against the Afghans and the Englishmen and they quickly need to get that confidence back.

What will also help India is that they have never been beaten by Pakistan in a World Cup game and in the recent past their record against the arch rivals has been terrific.

They have looked a far better side than their counterparts in the recent past and hopefully can turn it on in their game of survival against Pakistan. This is a high pressure game for India, but they have been in this situation before.

Their win against Pakistan in the world cup final in South Africa and in the semifinal in Mohali testifies the fact, that come the pressure game India have the mental strength to stand up. This should give them a lot of confidence.

Dhoni will have to solve a few puzzles before this game.

The question he will have to ask himself is that should he go in with 5 bowlers and the answer should be yes.

Then comes the question of the openers. India needs a quality player at the top. With due respect to Irfan Pathan, I feel that at number 7 he would be lot useful than as an opener.