T20 World Cup: Odds Favour India Against Pakistan; MS Dhoni's Team Favourite To Win Crown
India won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. No team has ever won the T20 World Cup at home. Pakistan won in 2009 in England.
Odds favour India to win the T20 World Cup. India (68%) are also overwhelming favourites to beat arch-rivals Pakistan (32 %) in their derby clash in Kolkata on March 19. Both India and Pakistan are former champions. Pakistan have never beaten India in a World Cup clash.
If India win the T20 World Cup, it will be the first time that a host will win the championship at home. "There can always be a first and India are favourites, but only by a little bit," Gavaskar told NDTV in an interview on Monday. (Tendulkar Happy With Dhoni's Return to Form)
© NDTV
According to the odds, India (32 per cent) are favourites. South Africa, who have never the tournament, are distant second at 16 %. Australia are a shade behind (15%) while England are at 11 per cent. Australia won a three match T20 series 2-1 against South Africa last week.
© NDTV
Strikingly, India, Australia, South Africa and England are the four teams on Gavaskar's list of semifinalists. Gavaskar justified his line-up on the basis of "current form." (Imran Khan, Wasim Akram to Give Pakistan Pep Talk Ahead of India Tie)
© NDTV
New Zealand (8%), former champions West Indies (7%), Pakistan (6%), defending champions Sri Lanka (3%) and Bangladesh (2%) lie low, according to the bookmakers. The super-10 stage of the tournament starts on Tuesday with India playing Nagpur on Tuesday. (India Have Prepared Well For World T20, Says Balaji)