We’re into the Super 12 games and in Group B we have a clash of the Asian titans of cricket, India and Pakistan. 100,000 tickets are sold out at the MCG and this should be immense. We’ve previewed the match and provided you with our two best bets.
India vs Pakistan T20 Tips
India go into this one as 1/2 favourites against their bitter rivals Pakistan, who are a 6/4 shot for the upset. This stacks up as India have won eight of the 11 T20I games between the two sides over the years, although Pakistan have won two of the last three. That included a 10 wicket victory over the Indians in last year’s Super 12 group.
Rohit Sharma’s men are in fine fettle though at the moment and have won 24 of 32 T20’s in 2022. They enter the tournament as the 3rd favourites and will be expected to win this one.
Pakistan, on the other hand, are extremely inconsistent as demonstrated in the recent England series. Getting battered in one game and then totally dominant in another. So much rests on their opening pairing of Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan. They have won just ten of 19 games in 2022.
Pakistan top opening partnership – 5/6
As previously mentioned, Azam and Rizwan are the heartbeat of this Pakistani batting line-up. Generally, if they fail, so do Pakistan. That was no more evident than in Karachi in the 2nd T20 against England, when the openers finished on 203/0 to win by 10 wickets.
There have been several questions about the pair’s run-rate but the fact is Pakistan’s middle order is fragile and these two have to protect it. The two average over 55 together and have the most century partnerships of any international pairing.
Mohammed Shami India top wicket taker – 18/5
Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the World Cup was a huge loss for the Indians, who are losing their best pace bowler. They do, however, have an excellent back-up in Mohammed Shami. The 32-year-old Gujarat Titan has a wicked yorker and can move the ball both ways.
Shami hasn’t played a great deal of T20 for India but this is his chance to shine and he showed his effectiveness in the warm-up game against the hosts Australia – taking 3-4 in a devastating last over.
