Pakistan nowhere near India’s level, says Manjrekar ahead of crucial Champions Trophy clash

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar believes the contest will be one-sided, with Pakistan failing to match India's strength.

Speaking during the Afghanistan-South Africa match commentary, Manjrekar stated, "Pakistan is nowhere near India's level. In recent years, India has dominated them, and this time, Pakistan is even weaker. That doesn't mean the rivalry has lost its excitement, though."

While the fixture has always been a high-voltage encounter, Manjrekar does not expect a close contest. He emphasised that to succeed in such conditions, a team needs quality spinners, but Pakistan's squad lacks this. "They may have Salman Agha or Khushdil Shah bowling for them, but it won't be enough to create significant problems for India. They only have one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, and that's not enough to trouble India's batsmen," he explained. He also noted that Pakistan's pace attack would struggle to have an impact.

Historically, Pakistan has held the upper hand in the overall ODI record against India, with 73 wins out of 135 encounters, compared to India's 57 victories. However, the recent trend has been firmly in India's favour. The last time Pakistan triumphed over India was in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. While that victory may provide some extra motivation for Pakistan, Manjrekar believes that India is the clear favourite heading into Sunday's match.

Manjrekar also pointed out Pakistan's recent struggles against India, stating, "In their last six ODI meetings, India has won five times, with one match being abandoned. This recent record only reinforces that India has dominated Pakistan in recent years."

In addition to the weaknesses in their bowling attack, Manjrekar emphasised the difficulties Pakistan faces in challenging India's batting strength. "India has been in complete control of recent contests, and with their top-order firing, it's hard to see Pakistan making an impact this time," he added.

India, who started their campaign with a solid 6-wicket win over Bangladesh, will be looking to extend their dominance. A win over Pakistan would ensure their qualification for the semifinals, keeping their hopes of lifting the trophy alive. For Pakistan, the stakes couldn't be higher—defeat would end their tournament hopes, while a win would keep them in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages.