Former India opener Gautam Gambhir said India is currently far superior to Pakistan, and it would be an upset if Pakistan defeated India, otherwise, it would be a very much given.
“Pakistan has dominated India a lot of times. Currently, if you see the level of both teams, India is far superior to Pakistan in all three formats. If Pakistan defeats India it’s an upset, if India defeats Pakistan, it’s very much given,” said Gambhir.
India and Pakistan are considered on-field rivals in cricket and become one of the most highly-anticipated matches. Both teams have not played a bilateral series in around a decade due to political tensions until October 14, 2023.
The two teams faced each other in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where India won the tournament against Pakistan. Their performance went unbeaten in the matches before Australia defeated them in the final.
However, Gambhir also said that the competition between India and Australia has become a top rivalry, surpassing the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.
India-Australia highlights in the 2023 Cricket World Cup
Australia won the tournament for the sixth time after Travis Head succeeded in making a six-wicket victory against India on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Approximately 93,000 Indian fans were left speechless as the home team, who had won 10 matches in a row to reach the final, suffered their first defeat of the tournament.
In the game, Australia struggled with a top order of their own, but 137 from Head off 120 balls saw them home with seven overs remaining in a match that never reached its peak.
Previously, Australian cricketer Pat Cummins’ decision to field, mainly to avoid operating with a dewy ball in the evening, left many perplexed. However, the Australian bowlers aided by some excellent fielding, managed to stifle their resistance.
Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis took five catches, making a record in a World Cup final. When the Australia team came out to bat, they crumbled to 47-3 in seven overs into what looked like an immediate chase for them.
Head then teamed up with Marnus Labuschagne, who made 58 not out, in a 192-run stand to end the match.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has played the decisive shots in their batting pattern in this tournament. The game was no different in the final despite losing Shubman Gill early on. Rohit hit three sixes in his entertaining 47-ball knock but fell just before the end of the powerplay.
Indian cricketers KL Kohli and Virat Rahul joined forces in a difficult partnership, even if it meant going through 16.1 overs without any boundaries.
Kohli recorded his ninth 50-plus knock in 11 innings but was soon out after cutting a Cummins delivery that hit his stumps. Rahul hit just one four in his half-century which illustrated how difficult the pitch was for batsmen like him.
Melbourne Stars’ performance on New Year’s Eve
Besides the cricket World Cup, the Australian cricket Big Bash League also captivates the cricket fans on the field. The 2023/24 Big Bash League (BBL) season starts in early December 2023 and until late January 2024, featuring 43 matches of 8 franchises — Adelaide Starts, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, and Sydney Thunder.
On New Year’s Eve, Melbourne Stars Marcus Stoinis played out a riveting innings of 55 to lead his team to their biggest victory in Big Bash League history. Stars were targeting 206 runs against Adelaide Strikers, putting in a great position by Daniel Lawrence (50 off 26), Beau Webster (66 off 48) and Glenn Maxwell (28 off 17).
Melbourne Stars Marcus Stoinis played out a riveting innings of 55 to lead his team to their biggest victory in Big Bash League history. Stars were targeting 206 runs against Adelaide Strikers, putting in a great position by Daniel Lawrence (50 off 26), Beau Webster (66 off 48) and Glenn Maxwell (28 off 17).
The game has drawn much attention from 44,000 people at the stadium on New Year’s Eve. Stoinis was selected as the player of the match for his innings, putting the Stars in the fourth spot in the league table.
Even though cricket fans miss the BBL games, they can follow the Big Bash League on simulated reality league (SRL) — a cricket match simulation that provides an immersive experience.
By using cutting-edge technology, it collects hundreds of data from major cricket matches, including statistics, player transfers, loans and drafts. The artificial intelligence (AI) will process the generated data into graphics and a computer simulation of BBL matches.
Betting on Big Bash SRL cricket is similar to betting on real cricket games, but SRL cricket is always available although the real cricket is off-season. As SRL cricket is rapidly growing, many platforms provide various bets, from simple match outcomes to complex bets.
Fans can still place bets on SRL cricket when the Big Bash League matches are over or the champion has been crowned.
