Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has backed India to start as favourites in Sunday’s high-voltage clash, pointing towards their balanced squad and recent composure under pressure. However, he cautioned that Pakistan’s aggressive batting can still pose a serious challenge.
India’s Balance Stands Out
Latif praised India’s squad depth, noting that the side under Suryakumar Yadav looks more complete with the presence of all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and the return of Jasprit Bumrah. He highlighted the bowling attack featuring Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Shivam Mavi, adding that India’s five-batter, five-bowler combination gives them stability.
Pakistan’s Emotional Factor
According to Latif, Pakistan often lose crucial moments due to emotions clouding decision-making against India. “We get hyper and don’t take the game deep, which costs us matches,” he said, referring to the rivalry where India have won 12 of the last 15 encounters.
Match Context
India began their campaign with a convincing win over Hong Kong, while Pakistan opened against Oman ahead of the marquee fixture. Latif pointed to the firepower of Sahibzada Farhan and Mohammad Nawaz, insisting they have the ability to surprise India in big moments.
Beyond the Boundary
Latif also touched on the psychological aspect, noting the additional pressure players face given the political backdrop. He remarked that the winner of the tie will be hailed as the ultimate “Sikandar” by fans on either side.
Discussion about this post