Synopsis
As India prepares to clash with Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, Irfan and Yusuf Pathan express confidence in India's superior skills and momentum. They note the importance of handling pressure in this high-stakes rivalry, with Pakistan needing to address their issues following a loss.Key Takeaways
- Irfan Pathan believes India is significantly stronger than Pakistan ahead of their Champions Trophy match.
- The pressure is on Pakistan after losing their first match, while India is in form.
- Both Pathan brothers emphasize the importance of managing pressure in high-stakes encounters.
- Strong performances from players like Mohammed Shami and Shubman Gill bolster India's confidence.
- Pakistan's senior players need to adapt to modern aggressive cricket.
Navi Mumbai, Feb 21 (NationPress) Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who famously took a hat-trick in the first over of a Test against Pakistan, believes India is significantly superior to Pakistan in terms of skills ahead of their critical Champions Trophy encounter. He cites the team's composition, player performance, and recent track record as key factors.
Pathan offered a word of caution for Rohit Sharma and his squad, emphasizing that in matches between India and Pakistan, the significance of the occasion is paramount, with the victorious team often being the one that manages the pressure better.
Irfan, who ranks as the fifth most successful Indian bowler against Pakistan with 34 wickets in 23 ODI matches, noted that the momentum lies with India following their strong start in the Champions Trophy.
"Absolutely, India is performing exceptionally well. Their opening campaign against Bangladesh was remarkable. It was encouraging to see Mohammed Shami take five wickets. His confidence will surely benefit from this, especially after returning from injury, which is a tough task for a fast bowler," said Irfan Pathan in an interview with IANS while preparing to represent India Masters in the International Masters League (IML) at DY Patil Stadium.
Discussing the strengths of the Indian lineup, Irfan, who is regarded as the finest left-arm pacer produced by India and a valuable lower-order batsman, remarked on the team's comprehensive all-round capabilities.
"We possess excellent all-round skills within the team. Axar is taking wickets consistently, and we have numerous options available, so hopefully, we can maintain this momentum. Shubman Gill is in fantastic form, and if Rohit and Virat continue to score runs consistently, this team will be unstoppable," Irfan added.
Regarding the Pakistan team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan pointed out that they have several issues to resolve as they approach this thrilling match.
"Pakistan has a number of challenges. Some of their senior players are not adapting to the aggressive style of modern white-ball cricket. While they can make changes, it is incredibly difficult," he explained.
Irfan stressed that more than the teams' strengths and weaknesses, the ability to handle pressure during crucial moments will determine the winner of the match on Sunday. He noted that recently, the Indian team has excelled in high-pressure situations.
"Ultimately, it’s not just about strengths and weaknesses; it’s about the occasion—the India vs Pakistan rivalry. The team that manages the pressure best will succeed. Based on recent trends, the Indian team has demonstrated an ability to handle challenging situations and significant moments, and in terms of talent, we are clearly ahead, particularly in one-day formats," said Irfan, who has faced Pakistan in many memorable clashes during his career.
Pressure is on Pakistan: Yusuf
Yusuf Pathan, Irfan’s elder brother, also views India as ahead of Pakistan and believes the pressure rests on the Pakistani team, who lost their first match, while India emerged victorious in theirs.
"The pressure is certainly on Pakistan as they have suffered a defeat, whereas we have secured a win. In ICC events, the pressure is always on them during India-Pakistan contests," remarked Yusuf Pathan to IANS.
Yusuf, who, like Irfan, is set to represent India Masters in the IML, is looking forward to their opening match against Sri Lanka Masters at DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. He confirmed that India is the team in form.
"All the Indian players are performing admirably, which boosts their confidence, and I’m certain the outcome will be favorable for us," Yusuf added.
Both Irfan and Yusuf Pathan are well aware of the pressures of facing Pakistan, having experienced it themselves. They were part of the Indian team that triumphed in the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa, defeating Pakistan in the final. Irfan also celebrated a Champions Trophy victory with India in 2013 in England, and Yusuf contributed significantly to the 2011 World Cup win, which included a match against Pakistan.
Both brothers are eager to witness India secure another victory against their arch-rivals.
