India vs Pakistan Clash: Rashid Latif Tips India as Favorites but Warns Not to Count Out Pakistan
As the excitement builds for the high-stakes India vs Pakistan match on Sunday, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has a clear take: India’s team looks like the strong favorite. But he quickly adds that his side can never be underestimated in these rivalry showdowns.
India kicked off their campaign in style, smashing Hong Kong by nine wickets under captain Suryakumar Yadav. Pakistan, on the other hand, starts against Oman on Friday before facing off against their archrivals.
Talking to , Latif praised India’s balanced squad. "India’s team is solid, and it showed in their game against UAE," he said. "Bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube are all in top form. With five strong batters and five reliable bowlers, they’ve got a winning combination."
He pointed out that both teams are in a transition phase, missing some star players but still packed with talent. "India has a calm and composed side," Latif noted. "But there’s extra pressure on everyone after the recent tensions between the two countries – that brief 2.5-hour operation (India’s Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack). The winner here will truly be the ‘Sikandar’ – the conqueror."
Latif couldn’t stop raving about India’s batting firepower. He highlighted the high strike rates of Suryakumar Yadav, vice-captain Shubman Gill, opener Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson. Plus, the Indian bowling attack keeps things tight with an impressive economy rate. Based on skills and history, he backs India to win this blockbuster Asia Cup fixture.
"I want Pakistan to win, no doubt," Latif admitted. "But looking at the talent, India sits on top. Their competition is so fierce – even stars like Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, and Ishan Kishan miss out despite great performances. Pakistan lacks that depth, and we struggle with shot selection sometimes."
Still, Latif holds out hope for Pakistan’s batters to shine in the India vs Pakistan encounter. "We’ve got aggressive hitters in the squad," he said. "Sahibzada Farhan attacks from ball one, and Mohammad Nawaz faces India for the first time. On a good batting pitch, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub could fire up and post a big total. You can’t write off Pakistan – on our day, we can pull off anything!"
Cricket fans are buzzing about this India Pakistan rivalry match, and with both teams eyeing victory in the Asia Cup, Sunday’s clash promises edge-of-the-seat action.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
