×

India vs Pakistan: Ajit Agarkar reckons Pakistan have the edge

The last time India andPakistan squared off was in the 2017 Champions Trophy final in England where Pakistan beat India by 180 runs.

Mohammad Amir bowled Pakistan to victory the last time the two teams met.

Mohammad Amir bowled Pakistan to victory the last time the two teams met. @Getty

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar feels that Pakistan may have a slight edge when the arch-rivals clash in the Asia Cup in Dubai on Wednesday. Without talismanic skipper Virat Kohli, India, led by Rohit Sharma, just about managed to scrape their way to the finish line with a 26-run win over Hong Kong in their tournament opener on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Pakistan warmed up perfectly for their high-octane encounter a few days ago when they thrashed the Anshuman Rath-led Hong Kong by eight wickets.

“For the first time, I don’t think India are clear favourites. Pakistan have a better form behind them. I am not sure if Pakistan are clear favourties here, but they might have a slight edge. Their playing elevens are working a lot more better than India at the moment, and that sometimes helps, plus India are playing back-to-back games which is not going to help in this heat either,”Agarkar told ESPNcricinfo on Wednesday.

The last time both teams squared off was in the 2017 Champions Trophy final in England where Pakistan beat India by 180 runs. “There is a case of Pakistan being a lot closer to India this time. In the Champions Trophy, India were clear favourites to win that,” said Agarkar, who claimed 288 wickets in 191 matches.

“Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya will come back and make the eleven a lot stronger than it looked in that first game against Hong Kong. India didn’t play particularly well against Hong Kong or the opposition batted really well. The only problem is that India will be a lot more tired after their first game playing in that heat.”

 

trending this week