NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has dismissed Pakistan’s possibilities of defeating India of their essential ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium on Sunday.
Citing Pakistan’s latest struggles, together with their tri-nation sequence loss and an underwhelming Check sequence in opposition to West Indies, Kaneria contrasted their kind with India’s resurgence following their Border-Gavaskar Trophy setback. He pointed to India’s white-ball sequence win in opposition to England and the robust performances of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami.
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“After the debacle within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, India defeated England within the white-ball sequence at residence. They obtained their confidence again as Rohit and Virat scored runs, whereas Shami additionally returned to the staff and silenced critics together with his bowling, even taking a fifer in opposition to Bangladesh,” Kaneria informed IANS.
Kaneria singled out India’s spin assault as a key problem for Pakistan, notably Babar Azam, who he believes struggles in opposition to left-arm spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. “India have higher spinners, and Babar Azam struggles in opposition to left-arm spinners. How will he sort out Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel? Alternatively, Pakistan don’t have a superb spinner, and we have seen Virat and different Indian batters battle in opposition to leg-spin. It is a big match, however Pakistan has no likelihood of profitable on February 23,” he remarked.
Babar’s strategy in Pakistan’s opening recreation in opposition to New Zealand additionally got here below scrutiny, with Kaneria criticising his intent whereas chasing 321. The Pakistan batter managed 64 off 90 balls, failing to maintain up with the required run price, whereas Khushdil Shah performed a extra aggressive 69 off 49 deliveries. “I’ve seen that when Babar thinks the match is out of attain, he focuses on scoring particular person runs. He didn’t present intent, whereas Khushdil Shah did and performed a superb knock. Though we misplaced, his innings no less than made the rating look higher. Babar can’t justify his strategy,” Kaneria stated.
He additional famous that Pakistan will battle on the gradual, dry pitches in Dubai, notably in opposition to India’s bowling assault, regardless of the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. “Shubman Gill scored a classical century. When you don’t have the intent, it’ll be very troublesome (to win in opposition to India),” he added.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, registered a six-wicket win over Bangladesh and can look to proceed their profitable momentum in opposition to arch-rivals Pakistan to safe a semi-final berth.
