"India superior to Pakistan, Afghanistan dark horse" - Gautam Gambhir

The excitement for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 reached its peak when India and Pakistan were pitted in the same group. After that, the ICC on Tuesday (August 17) revealed the itinerary for the global event with hosts Oman taking on Papua New Guinea on October 17 in the first match. After the conclusion of the qualifiers, the action shifts to the UAE, with teams battling out in the Super 12 stage.

The high-octane India vs Pakistan match will be played on October 24 in Dubai and already the experts have started making predictions about the game. Jumping into the bandwagon, Gautam Gambhir said expectations are going to be high from Pakistan, but India are a more superior team in the shortest format.

"Expectations are going to be really high from Pakistan as well, and at the moment, if you see, India is far more superior to Pakistan.”

India and Pakistan have met eight times in the T20Is, with the former winning seven games. In the very first edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, India beat Pakistan in the final to lift the title.

Gambhir further opined that Afghanistan is a dangerous team and one should not take them lightly. The Afghans are placed in Group B along with India and Pakistan. 

"Yes, in a T20 format, anyone can beat anyone because it is a very individual kind of format, and we should not take any team for granted. For example, you should not take Afghanistan for granted. People like Rashid Khan can create upsets. It’s the same with Pakistan. But, yes, there will be pressure on Pakistan," Gambhir told Star Sports.

Terming Afghanistan as the real underdogs, Gambhir said "they have got people like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb, and Mohd Nabi, so you can’t take them lightly."