4 reasons why Indian fans are supporting Pakistan against Australia

India defeated Bangladesh by 109 runs in their quarter-final and are now awaiting the result of the Pakistan-Australia match to find out who their semi-final will be against on March 26. While stalwarts like Sourav Ganguly, Ian Chappel and Brian Lara think that India should be preparing for a battle with Australia, an overwhelming part of the Indian population will be backing the Pakistan team in the 3rd quarter-final on 20th March. After all, as the case of the 'Mauka'-man goes to show, the chance of an India-Pakistan meeting in a World Cup is an occasion that is as big as it is rare.

#1 Easier opposition on form

Misbah ul-Haq and Mohammad Irfan

As the adage goes, the only thing one can be sure of in cricket is – nothing. However, elements like batting depth and bowling variation are what make up a team’s armoury, and it has to be said that Australia have been way ahead of Pakistan in such departments in recent years.

The Pakistani batting order has looked fragile at best, and hopeless at worst; while on the other hand, Australia have power-hitters like David Warner, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell – batsmen who can single-handedly take the game away from Mohammed Shami and co. on their day.

Mitchell Starc, with 16 wickets, is being seen as the most dangerous fast bowler of this tournament, and most of the Indian thinktank’s preparations for the semi-final will involve plans of tackling the New South Wales pacer. On the other hand, Pakistan have to do without their premier fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, who is out with a pelvic stress fracture, for the rest of the World Cup.

On paper, Australia are the more difficult oppositions without any doubt. The results from India’s long tour of Australia prior to the World Cup stand as proof.

#2 Home advantage

Indian fans during the India vs Bangladesh quarter final

One of the reasons why India have been so prolific in high-profile tournaments has been the amount of crowd support that shows up to support the Men in Blue in all parts of the world. The Indian diaspora, like the 1 billion home-based fans, are a raucous bunch – as Dhawan said a few days earlier, playing in Australia against neutral teams feels the same as playing in India.

If, however, India take on the Aussie might at the SCG, the Indian ‘home advantage’ will at least be nullified. SCG, where the 26^th March semi-final is to be played, is one of Australia’s most venerated cricket stadiums.

Sri Lanka were defeated by Australia by a comfortable margin of 64 runs at the SCG in a 2015 World Cup Pool A group match, on the back of a Glenn Maxwell century.

#3 World Cup Record

India and Pakistan players after their Pool B encounter on February 15

India have a famous 6-0 World Cup count against their traditional rivals in an otherwise unflattering head-to-head record – Pakistan have simply never figured out the formula to beat India in a World Cup match.

On the other hand, India and Australia have met 10 times in World Cups, with the result having been decided in Australia’s favour 7 times and in India’s favour thrice.

Barring India’s Yuvraj Singh-powered victory over Australia in 2011, which can be discounted by some since it was on an Ahmedabad pitch, the last Indian victory over Australia in a World Cup was in 1987.

There have been 5 Australian World Cup victories over India since 1987, the most painful memory being the demolition job Sourav Ganguly’s men were subject to in the 2003 World Cup final.

#4 Mother of all rivalries

The mother of all rivalries

The ‘Mauka’-man, one of the ongoing World Cup’s stars, has been waiting for years for a chance for a World Cup victory for Pakistan over India. This might come across as a rather sad state of affairs, but only for the uninitiated into the India vs Pakistan way of life. For many, the Mauka-man embodies a secret part of themselves.

For many Indian fans, a victory over Pakistan in the World Cup means more than winning the trophy. The ethics of such a stand can be subject to question, but questions of ethics are all swept under the carnival that is India vs Pakistan.

A clash between the neighbouring countries to decide who will get a chance to play in a World Cup final, – simply put, it does not get bigger than that between 22 yards.

If Pakistan do manage to win against Australia, the SCG semi-final will have entered the most exalted pages of cricket history even before the first ball will have been bowled.