Why India will beat Pakistan too

By- Ian Chappell

There's good reason to believe that India, who conquered Australia yesterday, have sharper tools to triumph over Pakistan in the semi-final on Wednesday

Here's why India are tipped to beat Pakistan in the semi-final at Mohali on Wednesday:

Yuvraj Singh (right) celebrates India's World Cup quarter-final win over Australia with Suresh Raina at Motera in Ahmedabad yesterday. PIC/AFP

Settled look
First of all, I'd say Pakistan have played two very disciplined games (vs Australia and West Indies) and I am not sure they can string three together. Pakistan's bowling is very good. I thought South Africa and Australia had the best attacks in the competition, but now I will say South Africa and Pakistan have the best attacks.

So, it will be an interesting battle where you will see the strong Indian batting versus the might of the Pakistan bowling.

But ever since India promoted R Ashwin in the side, I feel as though Mahendra Singh Dhoni has his attack lined up so he gets some good match-ups.

The Indian attack has improved enormously with the inclusion of Ashwin.

Bowling vs batting
In the end, it will come down to the two lesser skills each of the two teams have got - i.e India's bowling and Pakistan's batting. India's bowling is stronger than the Pakistan batting which I think is quite wobbly - not just the middle order. The top order as well.
Calm leadership
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a much more calmer leader than Shahid Afridi. You always get the feeling that Afridi is going to do something out of the ordinary and a bit that will damage his team.
I thought Dhoni had a good game in the field against Australia. He summed up the situation very well; kept looking for wickets all the way through. He is a very calming influence and boy, Indian needed some of that on Thursday.
Some of that running between wickets was something that they won't want to repeat against Pakistan. Dhoni is a much more calmer leader than Shahid Afridi.
You always get the feeling that Afridi is going to do something out of the ordinary and a bit that will damage his team. As I said earlier, Pakistan's last two games have been very disciplined but you always feel it won't take much to panic.
Pakistan will have problems because Afridi is not the kind of calming influence as Dhoni is. For me, the danger is that this match will be their final - Pakistan vs India and whichever team wins this, might be absolutely drained going into the final. But that is something to worry about down the line. You have to win the semi-final first, but I think Dhoni's calmness is a big advantage
to India.
Pressure soakers
India is better equipped to deal with the pressure surrounding the India vs Pakistan label to the game. That's mainly because of Dhoni and his calmness is a big advantage to India. Pakistan will have problems because Afridi is not the kind of calming influence as his opposite number.
When you guide your team through tough situations, that builds confidence in the team. Once the team believes that the captain can do some good things, then they (good things) tend to happen.

Smart in the field
The inclusion of Suresh Raina has made a big difference to the Indian fielding. I am not sure which way they'll go in terms of combination for the next game, but Raina has to hold his place with the way he performed against Australia. India did a good job particularly since it was so hot.
There was a lot of talk earlier in the tournament about India's fielding and lack of fitness in hot weather but they showed otherwise yesterday.