Heading into the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match in the upcoming ODI World Cup, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has shared his interesting take on the rivalry. Ganguly, who himself was part of intense India vs Pakistan World Cup matches in 1999 and 2003, believes that India’s continuous dominance over Pakistan has led to a decline in the quality of the matches.

While speaking on Star Sports, Ganguly expressed his view, saying, “There is a lot of hype in this match but the quality has not been that good for a long time because India kept on winning one-sided. Pakistan probably defeated India for the first time in the T20 World Cup in Dubai.”

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However, Sourav Ganguly’s confidence in India’s absolute dominance might be slightly unfounded, as the recent records indicate a more balanced rivalry. In T20I matches played between Pakistan and India in the 2020s, the teams have split the victories 2-2. Pakistan’s crucial wins, including the 10-wicket victory in Dubai and the triumph in the Asia Cup, have had significant impacts on the tournaments.

Sourav Ganguly also mentioned that, in his opinion, India vs Australia tends to provide a better contest in the World Cup due to the higher quality of play. While India has had a stronghold over Pakistan in the ODI World Cup, winning against them in the last seven editions, Pakistan’s victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy final showcased their capability to defeat their rivals.

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Despite Sourav Ganguly’s assessment, it is important to note that India-Pakistan matches have often delivered thrilling encounters. Memorable T20I clashes, such as India’s famous win in the 2022 World Cup with Virat Kohli’s heroic performance, as well as closely contested Asia Cup matches, have provided fans with gripping moments.

The upcoming World Cup match on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to be a grand spectacle, with a capacity crowd and millions of viewers eagerly awaiting the drama and excitement that an India-Pakistan contest brings.