India will be wary of Younis Khan

Amongst the Pakistani batsmen, it is the blade of Younis Khan which the Indian bowlers need to be wary of. He has smashed three centuries and a couple of fifties in the last eight games against India.

India have never lost to Pakistan in the World Cup

By Suneer Chowdary

 

Mohali: Mar 29, 2011

 

Statistics play a big part in an average cricket fan’s life and while it may not help in predicting the winner of the India-Pakistan game, it does give a perspective to the game.

 

Not too many know that India have never lost to Pakistan in World Cup but then, India has never entered the final of a home World Cup either. For that matter, nor have Pakistan, whose best performance after that 1992 World Cup win came in 1999 when they were brushed aside by Australia.

 

Interestingly, all the three Asian teams in the semi-finals, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, have won one World Cup each and lost another World Cup final. India and Pakistan have got into the semi-finals on two other occasions while Sri Lanka have got there once.

 

India have won only 46 of their 69 matches against Pakistan. However, if one were to consider the records in the last five years – they have a 7-6 record. This further suggests that there is nothing much to choose from between the two teams. Even at home, India does not enjoy any advantage. Of the 26 played between the two sides, India have won only nine.

 

Interestingly, in the last ten games – and hence, 20 innings – between the two sides, there has been only one instance of a team not getting to 200. Pakistan have chased down a target of 300 on two occasions in these ten, while India have done it once, which is a total of three out of the ten games. If one includes targets of 256 and 268 chased down, it would appear that no target is safe – an obvious inference to the fact that either side understands the bowling strengths and weaknesses of the other.

 

India’s record at Mohali against Pakistan is barely pleasing for the fans. They have lost both the games to Pakistan here, including one in. The last time the two teams played here was in 2007, where India’s 321 for nine was chased down by a rampaging century by Younis Khan and Afridi’s 14-ball 29.

 

Amongst the Pakistani batsmen, it is the blade of Younis Khan which the Indian bowlers need to be wary of. He has smashed three centuries and a couple of fifties in the last eight games against India. Once he gets a start, there is usually no looking back. From amongst the Indians, there are not too many big centuries. However, both Gambhir and Dhoni are two players to watch out for.

 

Pictures @ Getty Images

About the Author