In the buildup to Champions Trophy 2017, India were deemed hot favourites. Pakistan, their arch-rivals-were touted as also-rans slated for the first round exit. Pakistan showed all of it in their first game against India, living upto the billing of being lowest ranked side in the eight-team tourney. True to the predictions, India are in the finals. Bar the blip in Sri Lanka fixture, Virat Kohli led side has played like defending champions and clear favourites.
First game suggested a first round exit was imminent for Pakistan. Pakistan being Pakistan have fashioned kind of a turnaround only they could. Down and nearly out, Sarfaraz Ahmad marshaled side got their pieces together to script three back to back victories enabling them to book a final showdown against their nemesis in the ICC tournaments- India.
India have been mostly flawless and Pakistan almost clinical. India made light work of Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh on their way to summit clash. Pakistan have come trumps against Sri Lanka, tournament favourites South Africa and England to find themselves a victory away from title glory. Keeping the tradition alive, Pakistan have defied odds and oppositions to have cricket pundits in awe of their performance.
India have been methodical. Batting heavy India relies on chasing any target. Bowling hasnt disappointed either. Gone are the days when there were too reliant on batting prowess. In Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshvar Kumar India have a potent new ball bowling pair to go with world class spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Virat and co. follow a pattern of their own. Preferably, they like to bowl first and restrict opposition to a chase-able score and back their supremely talented batting lineup to overhaul the target.
You dont have to worry much if batting lineup boasts of names like Rohit Sharma, Shekhar Dhawan , Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Lower order isnt bad either. Top three are in a superb run making form which has helped India to the finals. India are oceans ahead in fielding department. Going against Pakistan in a tournament final should have Indians as favourites. Man to man comparison, India have the advantage to go with their experience of playing big finals in recent times. India under Dhoni and now Kohli have learnt to approach high voltage encounters with an aplomb, and, on the other hand, Pakistan traditionally fail to bring their A game to the fore which has been their undoing in the global fixtures against India.
Having said that, Pakistan have shaped up as a potent yet focused unit post India defeat. Right men have been picked for right surfaces. Pakistan have slotted their young leggie when surfaces have demanded and handed over debut to all-rounder Faheem Ashraf against Sri Lanka when pitch had some bounce in it. Inclusion of Fakhar Zaman and giving him license to take on bowlers at top of the order has given strike-rate much needed kick in early overs. Scoring at more than run-a-ball has meant easy for accumulators like Babar Azam, Shoab Malik and Sarfaraz. Historically Pakistan have been iffy chasers but this tournament all three victories have come chasing which says lot about their resurgence and character.
Batting hasnt set the world on fire though. It is again their strong suit, bowling that has come to Pakistans rescue at crunch situations. Pacers have been reliable and spinners have done everything required to derail oppositions charge.
Pakistans turnaround has been synonymous with their young pacer Hassan Alis rise. He was a near failure in the first game, but exhibited his skills and hunger in three consecutive games to emerge as face of Champions Trophy 2017. He may not be express pace, but gets the ball to bend away both ways on nearly unresponsive surfaces. Brilliant with reverse swing, cunning with slower ones, and, more importantly, has a heart and presence of mind to take on any challenge. He has been complemented well by senior pros Junaid Khan and Mohammad Amir. Pakistan have managed to squeeze teams in the middle overs by taking wickets-bundles of them- and death bowling has been world class. With Amir back for the finals after missing semis against England due to any injury, Pakistan bowling seems to be their best bet to challenge India. Team management might be tempted to play Faheem in place of either of spinner Shadab and Imad Wasim because of Indias terrific record against spin.
It will be interesting to see kind of surface curator has to offer for the title-decider. One expects Oval surface to be a belter and a close contest between Pakistans bowling arsenal and batting heavy India.
As of now, India have the advantage but Pakistan know a thing or two about creating upsets. Pakistan fans will hope Sunday has one of those in store for them in Oval.
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