While cricket fans and pundits around the world were beginning to get excited about yet another chapter in one of the most intense cricket rivalries in world cricket- the India vs Pakistan ODI World Cup fixture at the largest cricket stadium- the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has made a massive statememt. He reckons that despite there being so much hype about the India vs Pakistan World Cup fixtures, it is actually the India vs Australia matches that tend to be a closer rivalry in World Cup history.
Ganguly's remark does hold some merit. While there is always a lot of built up ahead of the India-Pakistan World Cup fixtures, the fact remains that India have a 100 per cent record in the ODI format. Up until recently, their record was a cent per cent across both the white-ball format World Cup fixtures before the Men in Blue succumbed to a 10-wicket defeat in the T20 World Cup 2021 match in Dubai.
"There is a lot of hype in this match but the quality has not been that good for a long time because India kept on winning one-sided. Pakistan probably defeated India for the first time in the T20 World Cup in Dubai," Ganguly said during a discussion on Star Sports.
"India did not play well in that tournament but according to me, India vs Australia tends to be a better game in the World Cup because the quality is better," he added.
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Having said that, Ganguly agreed that the current Pakistan time is also good and hinted that this India vs Pakistan World Cup fixture could be a thrilling affair.
"This Pakistan team is also good and the match will be good. Pakistan becomes a good team on flat wickets because their batters use those conditions well. They have fast bowlers who use the conditions," he said.
"Wherever there is seam or swing, because their quality of batting has been good in the past, I can't say what will happen going forward, India always used to march ahead. It will always be a big game. The conditions will also be important," the soon-to-be 51-year-old stated.