Raju: People are so used to seeing India win
Former India spin bowler Venkatapathy Raju believes India will be the overwhelming favourites when they take on Pakistan in their opening World Cup match at the Adelaide Oval on the 15 February.
Pakistan have never beaten their arch-rivals in a World Cup match, and Raju feels that statistic, and the fact that India are also defending world champions, will increase the pressure on MS Dhoni's men to deliver a victory.
Raju told PTI in an interview: "India have done better in the recent past as compared to Pakistan but being the defending champions and the fact that they have not lost a game against their arch-rivals in the ICC World Cup, I believe the pressure will be on us.
"Pakistan have nothing to lose, we have everything to gain. People are so used to seeing India win against Pakistan in a World Cup that the pressure automatically builds on us.
"But if you have to be a champion team then you have to come good in any situation and start on a winning note to take the momentum forward."
Asked for his prediction for the tournament, Raju feels his home nation can reach the semi-finals but there are better teams in the world at the moment.
He said: "India should feature in the final-four but I can't predict the top four, maybe top-six I can count. Teams like Australia and South Africa look like the two best sides because of their bowling and batting.
"New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, are the ones who are also looking like featuring in the top-six, but sub-continent teams will really have to play good cricket to compete with the rest."
The global tournament will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand and starts on the 14 February.
Latest
-
NewsDanny Briggs stars as Warwickshire take edge in title push against Somerset
Ex-Hampshire ace Danny Briggs could have helped take the title away from his old club.
-
NewsEngland will carefully manage ‘warrior’ Katherine Brunt, Heather Knight assures
Brunt, 36, almost single-handedly made a game of the third ODI against New Zealand on Tuesday.
-
NewsThe MCC replaces the word ‘batsman’ with ‘batter’ in the laws of cricket
2017 Wotld Cup winner Alex Hartley has suggested ‘nightwatcher’ should replace ‘nightwatchman’ and ‘third’ should be used instead of ‘third man’.
-
NewsHeather Knight accepts and understands Pakistan tour decision
The England Women captain says the decision was taken out of the team’s hands.
-
NewsNew Zealand keep series alive with three-wicket victory at Leicester
Katherine Brunt impressed for England but the hosts were beaten.
-
NewsBowlers shine as Lancashire bid to land Championship title
Hampshire were dismissed for 143 at Aigburth.
-
NewsECB acted alone in cancelling tour, says Britain’s high commissioner to Pakistan
Christian Turner appeared to distance the political establishment from the decision and insisting he supported the trip.
-
NewsRamiz Raja fears ‘West versus rest’ split in international cricket
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman was responding to the cancellation of England’s tour next month.
-
NewsSecurity around England Women v NZ third ODI raised after ‘threatening email’
The game, at Leicestershire’s Uptonsteel County Ground, is due to go ahead as planned with a 1pm start.
-
NewsWhat was the safety issue and how has England’s decision gone down in Pakistan?
The ECB has pulled its men’s and women’s teams out of next month’s planned white-ball tour of Pakistan.