India are favourites to win the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan on Sunday, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column in the Times of India. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator said that the pressure of such a big game will test the character of both the teams.
“India start favourites but the big occasion makes some players raise the level of their game while some others get cowed down by it,” Gavaskar wrote. “We shall see at The Oval which team lifts not just its game but also the trophy.”
With India’s openers in great touch, Gavaskar feels that the middle order has to still prove their pedigree in England. “India’s openers have been in great touch and Rohit Sharma’s hundred [against Bangladesh in the semi-final] was terrific. Shikhar Dhawan loves the ICC events, and with Kohli getting a nice long outing in the semis, the rest of the batsmen have hardly had a hit.”
India has to raise its fielding standards in this crucial clash, Gavaskar said. “It’s the fielding again that has to get sharper and Kohli must look to get his more athletic fielders in the deep where they can save the boundaries.” He added that India wouldn’t want to change their playing XI unless it is a cloudy day in London. In that case, “they may think of including another seamer,” he said.
Gavaskar said he was also surprised with Pakistan making the final after the defeat against India in the first game of the tournament. However, he credited captain Sarfaraz Khan for their achievement. “Who would have thought that after the drubbing they received from India in their first match of the group stage, Pakistan would be contesting the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. That they are is due to some brilliant captaincy from Sarfraz Ahmed and greater determination shown in their other two games.”
He backed Ahmed for his clever bowling changes and approach during crucial games against Sri Lanka and England. “[Ahmed’s] calm and cool approach in that nervous run chase against Lanka was what got Pakistan into the semis. He has also impressed with his captaincy, making clever bowling changes and the way Pakistan’s spinners have strangled the opposition batsmen in the middle overs has been terrific. With Mohammad Amir expected to be back for the final the new ball attack is as always a formidable one with Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali bowling well too.”