NEW DELHI: Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Team India’s ability to handle pressure effectively gives Rohit Sharma’s side an advantage in the highly anticipated Champions Trophy clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.
India started their campaign with a dominant six-wicket win over Bangladesh, while Pakistan stumbled to a 60-run defeat against New Zealand, leaving them at the bottom of the four-team Group A points table.
“When it comes to Pakistan, look, they have plenty of problems in the team,” Pathan told PTI.
“As far as some of the senior guys (are concerned), they don’t play that kind of aggressive modern day cricket, especially in white-ball cricket. So, can they change it? It’s very difficult. But more than the weaknesses and the strengths, it’s all about the India-Pakistan occasion. Whoever handles the occasion really well, that team wins,” he said.
Pathan said the Indian side is better placed to handle pressure situations.
“What we have seen in the recent past with the Indian team, we know how to handle a tough situation and the big occasion as well. As far as the talent is concerned, we are far ahead, especially in one-day cricket,” he said.
Pathan said Mohammed Shami will draw a lot of confidence from his five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, which helped him become the fastest Indian bowler to take 200 ODI wickets.
“(It was) good to see Mohammed Shami get a fifer. He will get a lot of confidence out of it as well because after injury, coming back on the field, it’s not easy especially for fast bowlers (but) he did well,” Pathan said.
“We (India) have good all-round abilities in the team as well. Axar (Patel) is picking up wickets and we have a lot of options as well. Hopefully that momentum will be carried.”
“Shubman (Gill) is in tremendous form and once Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) keep scoring runs consistently, this team will be unstoppable,” he added.
