00:00Okay, to build up for that big game, we're joined live by our cricket analyst in Mr. Sunil Gavaskar.
00:06Sahi bhai, we just looked at the head-to-head record.
00:08I'm seeing the last six times these two teams have played in T20Is.
00:136-0 in India's favour.
00:14Looking at the two teams and the current form,
00:17fair to say more chances of it being 7-0 than 6-1 at the end of tomorrow?
00:24Yeah, but before that, I think salutations to Captain Smith for what he did the other day
00:30and saving the lives of so many people.
00:34I mean, absolutely tremendous.
00:36So, you know, grateful and so proud of what he did.
00:40And yes, I think coming back to the cricket with the way the Indian team has been playing
00:46in all formats of the game.
00:48You know, the win against the West Indies two days ago, chasing 400.
00:52And then the record that they have in the T20 format, they certainly start the favourites.
00:58Also because the only thing is that Pakistan will probably be under a lot less pressure
01:03because it's their second-string team.
01:05And in a T20 game, you know, fortunes can change in an over or so.
01:10But I do believe that India has got all their guns firing.
01:15Once again, with Ishaan Kishan playing, you know, a match-winning game
01:19where every time, you know, the team is in trouble, Ishaan puts his hand up.
01:24Say, because you talk about Ishaan Kishan and how good he was in that last game.
01:28Now, we believe it's going to be a spin-friendly track.
01:31We've seen that in this Asian Games.
01:33Does that, in that sense, even out the contest between the two teams?
01:36Because India's strength is their batting, but such pitches don't allow for free-flowing batting.
01:41And in that sense, and we've seen Indian batters sometimes struggle against spin.
01:44It happened versus Japan, kind of happened versus Sri Lanka if it wasn't for Ishaan Kishan.
01:50That evens out the contest, the pitch that will be available?
01:55Yes, but don't forget that India has also got a tremendous spin attack.
01:59Look at what they did to Sri Lanka.
02:01Dismissing them for 45 just tells you how well they bowled.
02:05They exploited the pitch well.
02:06Yes, you could have a pitch which is stirring, but you still need the bowlers.
02:10Sri Lanka has always got top-quality spin bowlers.
02:13But because of those two innings, firstly at the start by Vaibos Surya Moushi when he got 39.
02:20And then Ishaan Kishan's, you know, you're really hammering the bowling around.
02:25That's how India got to 170.
02:27I thought at one stage, looking at the way the pitch was, that maybe about 145, 150 would be a
02:33good score to get.
02:34But we got 20 more.
02:35So, yes, I think with the Indian spin bowling, with being the best in the world at the moment,
02:42you know, yeah, we might not get too many runs.
02:45But I don't think we'll allow Pakistan to get too many runs either.
02:48Yeah, that's exactly what we've been seeing in this particular tournament.
02:52Last time, Pakistan was a bit under pressure versus Bangladesh.
02:55It was only the lower order that really bailed them out.
02:58But, say, one thing that we witnessed in the last game versus Sri Lanka, which was very interesting,
03:03you managed to fit all the three in, in Abhishek, Sanju, Samsung, Vaibhav Suryavanshi into the 11.
03:09Did you like that idea?
03:10Would you want India to continue with that?
03:15You've got to, you know, horses for courses.
03:17You've got to go according to what the opposition is and what is the opposition strength and how you can
03:22counter that strength.
03:23And you've also got to have a look at the pitch, the overcast conditions, overhead conditions, and take the final
03:29call.
03:29But I think that was a very, very smart move.
03:34You saw it paid dividends because Abhishek and Sanju got out early.
03:39But Vaibhav continued batting the way he did and got those runs at 39.
03:44was something that pushed Sri Lanka back.
03:48Because if they had got another wicket or so earlier, then who knows, even India would have struggled.
03:53Okay.
03:54That's an interesting one.
03:55You talk about we'll have to look at the overhead conditions.
03:57I'm just looking at the weather right now.
03:59It's supposed to be a clear day, not a chance of rain.
04:02And at best, a very minimal chance of rain, bright and sunny.
04:06So, it's a good day for cricket.
04:07That's great news.
04:09In that sense, we saw last game, India play only one regular fast bowler in Jaspreet Bumrah.
04:15Did you like that?
04:16Would you want India to continue with that?
04:17Or maybe look at an Arshlip getting another fast bowler, maybe at the cost of an extra batter,
04:21because the batting was still nine?
04:23Or maybe in place of a spinner, what would you do?
04:28Yes, that's a tricky one.
04:30You want guys who can bowl with the new ball.
04:33I think Shivam Dubey was supposed to be the backup new ball bowler, along with Jaspreet Bumrah.
04:40That didn't quite happen, because the spinners came to the party straight away.
04:43And I think, I won't be surprised if India go in with a similar kind of line-up,
04:48where they have depth in their batting, so that in case they lose in the power player of your wicket,
04:53they still have enough firepower to try and get a big score.
04:57So, they could jolly well go with the same combination for the final as well.
05:03And from Pakistan's point of view, Sahib Zadha Farhan, I've seen he's got a decent record versus India
05:09when it comes to T20Is.
05:10He's their captain as well.
05:11His wicket is the key wicket for India to target?
05:15Yes.
05:16He's a man who's got runs against India.
05:18He knows how to tackle Bumrah.
05:20He knows how to play against the bowlers.
05:23So, yes, his wicket is going to be the key for India.
05:27Just like I think Ishan Kishan's wicket is going to be the key for Pakistan.
05:33Okay.
05:34So, I have a final question to you before we let you go.
05:37The draw was out for the World Cup yesterday.
05:41The Indian team, we've seen it alongside Pakistan and Australia.
05:46Plenty of chatter that maybe India's got the easier group.
05:49We'll try and get that group as well on stage.
05:52What did you make of the schedule, the tournament format?
05:55Now you've got a Super 7.
05:57So, at least four group stages.
05:59Overall, India's group.
06:00Your thoughts?
06:03Yes.
06:03I think the World Cup, you know, where maybe I don't remember whether it was 2011, where
06:10all the teams played against each other once.
06:12I think.
06:13And then the four semifinalists were decided after that.
06:18Maybe something like that makes it a little bit more interesting.
06:22But we'll just have to wait and see, because this is a new format.
06:24This format, I don't think, has been used before in the World Cup.
06:28So, it'll be something that we'll have to wait and see.
06:30Obviously, the thinking has been to try and look at the huge amounts that the broadcasters,
06:36you know, put in.
06:37To try and give them as much as possible.
06:40And over there, there is a possibility of India and Pakistan playing maybe three times
06:44in the, if both get to the final.
06:48So, therefore, I think it's been thought of with that in mind.
06:52And nobody should be cribbing about it.
06:54Because, you know, the broadcasters are so, so important.
06:56They bring in the big bucks.
06:59And which is the reason we all get to see it all over the world.
07:02Okay, Sam, I will leave it at that.
07:03Completely out of time.
07:04But thanks so much for joining us, talking to us.
07:07Here's a reminder, we'll have Mr. Gavaskar back tomorrow after that big final gold medal
07:12match between India and Pakistan to analyze that final as well.
07:15So, look forward to your company then for the moment from the entire team.
07:19Thanks so much for watching.
07:20News and updates continue after this.
