New Delhi (India), February 16: Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has cautioned fans not to expect too much entertainment in the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the upcoming Champions Trophy on February 23. Despite the historic rivalry between the two teams, Harbhajan believes the match will be “overhyped” and anticipates a one-sided affair, with India having a significant advantage.
India and Pakistan last met in the Champions Trophy final in 2017, where Pakistan stunned India with a commanding 180-run victory. This time, however, Harbhajan feels that the gap between the two teams is too wide for the match to be as closely contested as expected. He shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, stating, “India is a strong team. Pakistan is inconsistent. If you compare the numbers with the Indian team, the picture will become clear.”
The build-up to the Champions Trophy sees India entering the tournament with impressive form, having recently swept England 3-0 in an ODI series. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been struggling, with a disappointing loss in the ODI Tri-nation series at home against South Africa and New Zealand. Although Pakistan managed a thrilling victory over South Africa by chasing down a mammoth target, they were comfortably defeated by New Zealand in the final.
For Harbhajan, the contrasting forms of the two teams are a major factor in India’s likely success. “I think the Pakistan team is undercooked. Apart from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, there aren’t many batters. I feel it will be a one-sided game. I don’t think there will be much entertainment. India is far ahead,” he added.
The India-Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy is expected to be a spectacle for cricket fans worldwide, but Harbhajan’s comments suggest that the outcome may be less dramatic than anticipated, given the current disparity between the two sides.