World Cup 2015: India Favourites to Remain Unbeaten vs Pakistan, Say Sunil Gavaskar, VVS Laxman

Asian giants and arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, get ready for yet another blockbuster World Cup tie in Adelaide on Sunday. Both teams have looked ragged in the recent past but three former cricketers and NDTV experts -- Sunil Gavaskar, Ian Chappell and VVS Laxman -- back Mahendra Singh Dhoni & Co. to keep India's unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cups intact. India have beaten Pakistan in all five previous World Cup meetings -- 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2011. (Complete coverage of the World Cup)

A host of current and former Pakistan cricketers believe this clash could be their best chance to change the course of history and get one over an out-of-sorts Indian team that is still grappling with poor form and fitness. (Related: Waqar says Pakistan team is determined | Irfan says India far superior)

"Both teams are not really in the best of form, so it's possible for Pakistan to beat India. Pakistan have just lost two matches in New Zealand. They haven't really been on top of their game even in the United Arab Emirates. So, you can say that India may start as favourites because of the past records and India were a formidable unit when they played Sri Lanka and the West Indies at home," Gavaskar told NDTV.

"I would imagine that India would start as slight favouirites, but because both the teams go into the tournament really with no great form, no great touch, it could be even stevens," he added. (In pics: Pakistan fans pray for success vs India)

Former India Test batsman VVS Laxman feels inconsistency and Pakistan's inability to replace leading spinner Saeed Ajmal gives India the edge.

"They (Pakistan) are a dangerous team, but have been very inconsistent. I think they have still not got an answer to the loss of Saeed Ajmal. They are hugely-dependent on him and I think they don't have a wicket-taking bowler of his capability," Laxman told NDTV.

According to former Australian skipper Ian Chappell, lack of potential match-winners in the current Pakistan team makes India favourites to win the highly-anticipated tie.

"Pakistan had guys like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Inzamam in the 1992 World Cup, who could win you matches. I am not sure that Pakistan have got some players of that calibre at the moment. Particularly in bowling, I think losing Junaid Khan is a big blow for them. So, I think that India will start favourites," Chappell told NDTV.

Chappell also pointed out that India have been in Australia for close to three months and will be used to the conditions.

"India have been playing in Australia now for a few months whereas Pakistan haven't. Okay, they will have a couple of practice games to get used to it. But India played well at the Adelaide Test and had a chance to win right up till the last hour of the game," Chappell said.

"I think that there will be pride at stake for India. They certainly won't want to be the first Indian team that loses to Pakistan in a World Cup. So, that's probably enough to get them over the line," he added.

Form and momentum mean very little in this high-octane clash. The pressure of an entire nation weighs on the minds of both these sides when they play against each other. World Cup opener or a crunch knockout game, the stakes are always high. Can Misbah and Co. turn the tide? Or will Dhoni & Co. keep India's illustrious record versus Pakistan in World Cups going?