Super Sunday is gearing up to reopen rivalries that have fascinated cricket fans for years.
The second match of the double-header in Colombo will see arch rivals India and Pakistan taking on each other in what is anticipated to be the biggest clash in the Super Eights.
Pakistan would almost confirm their path into the semi-finals with a win while India are eager to break their Super Eights jinx.
Pakistan would consider themselves lucky to have won their first match in the Super Eights.
After a wholehearted performance by the bowlers, the batsmen had all but ruined the efforts before it took an unlikely batting hero in Umar Gul to steer them to win.
Umar Akmal ably supported him as Pakistan won by two wickets. Captain Mohammad Hafeez was upbeat about the team’s chances given the fighting spirit the team has shown.
An India-Pakistan match always has an air of unpredictability around it and that would mean that Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik retain their places despite indifferent performances.
India, on the other hand, are fighting to stay alive in the tournament after the mauling they got at the hands of Australia.
The task is not easy for captain MS Dhoni has had to battle criticism over his decision to drop Virender Sehwag.
The pundits have raised concerns over Yuvraj Singh’s selection and Sunday could see the below-par fitness batsman being dropped in favor of Sehwag who has a hugely successful record against Pakistan.
Virat Kohli will be expected to shoulder the batting duties and also did well in the warm-up against Pakistan, a match that India eventually lost.
Come Sunday, at least one record would have to go. It will either be Pakistan’s first win over India in a major ICC tournament or it will be India’s first win in a World T20 Super Eights match since 2007.
The match starts at 7.30 pm.