The talks around T20 World Cup have already started with India taking on Pakistan in the campaign opener. Though many feel that Pakistan will have an advantage in the world event as they play a lot of matches in UAE, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels Indian players will feel at home as they will be participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in the Middle East.
After the Test series against England, Indian players will land in UAE to join their respective IPL franchise for the second leg of the league. The fact that Indian cricketers will be taking part in the IPL has made Gambhir optimistic.
“It is very difficult to predict in the T20 format but if you say Pakistan plays a lot of cricket in the UAE, I feel India will have the home advantage because you would have played one month of the IPL in the UAE.”
“At the same time, when you go into the World Cup after playing a tournament of IPL’s quality, you are better prepared. If you go after playing a bilateral series, you are not as well prepared as you are after playing the IPL,” the southpaw added.
He further compared IPL to big ICC events. “The intensity and quality of cricket in the IPL, I feel it is equivalent to any international cricket or even better. Imagine if you go into the World Cup after playing South Africa or Sri Lanka, or after playing the IPL, you will be better prepared by playing the IPL. So, the home advantage will be in India’s favour as compared to Pakistan or any other country.”