'India-Pakistan Series Won't Be Competitive': Gambhir Makes Massive Claim After India's Emphatic Win Over Arch-Rivals In World Cup 2023

IND vs PAK: Gambhir highlighted that while it was Pakistan who boasted of a dominating record in the past, the tables have turned in the recent past with India enjoying a superior record lately.

Former Indian cricketer and Star Sports commentator Gautam Gambhir during an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 match.

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While there was a lot of hype about the India vs Pakistan clash at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, as it turned out, it was a one-sided affair dominated by India. The match which was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad showed India's class as the Men in Blue beat their oppenents by 7 wickets and 117 balls remaining. While Indian fans and former cricketers and cricket experts all all happy with India's performance, ex-India cricketer Gautam Gambhir reckons that one team dominating the other like this in what is called the mother of all contests is not good for subcontinental cricket.

Gambhir also said that while it was Pakistan who used to boast of a similar dominating record in the past, the tables have turned in the recent past with India enjoying a superior record lately. He added that if at all an IND vs PAK bilateral seies is held, it won't be competitive at all given the difference in the quality of both teams at the moment.

"Hammering along with domination. You use this word very rarely, that too when you are playing against Pakistan. If you see the results, Pakistan used to hammer India like this for a long time. However, for the last many years, India have dominated. This is bad for subcontinental cricket. We always used to say that if we have an India-Pakistan series, it will be competitive. An India-Pakistan series is not going to be competitive at all because there is a massive difference between the two sides," he told Star Sports.



Gambhir also showered praise on Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav both of whom turned the match on its head against Pakistan with Kuldeep taking two wickets in an over and Bumrah chipping in with two wickets in two overs in the middle overs after Pakistan were 155/2 at one stage. The collpase triggered by Mohammed Siraj's dismissal of Babar Azam saw them get bowled out for 191.

"If any captain has Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, it is a huge luxury. Out of 50 overs, you get 20 overs from bowlers who can give you wickets anytime. You were comparing Jasprit Bumrah with Shaheen Shah Afridi. Jasprit Bumrah's first spell was under the 2 PM sun and he hardly gave any runs in his first four overs," he explained.