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Legendary Brian Lara feels Pakistan "running away at the top" is perfect for the Indian side to look for the second spot in the T20 World Cup 2021.
Following a 10-wicket drubbing to arch-rivals Pakistan, the Virat Kohli-led Indian unit will look to redeem themselves against New Zealand on October 31.
Pakistan, on the other hand, have started their T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note by making it two in two. They first steamrolled India in their opener and then brushed New Zealand aside by five wickets.
“India now have to beat New Zealand. Of course, they have other games to play but Pakistan running away at the top is perfect for India to sort of look for that second spot," Lara told official broadcasters Star Sports.
India's contest against New Zealand could be a virtual knockout before they take on Afghanistan, Namibia, and Scotland.
India are yet to beat the Kiwis in the T20 World Cup. In both the World T20 meetings between the two sides in 2007 and 2016, the Kiwis have been on the winning end. India, the 2007 T20 World Cup winners, had suffered solitary defeat of their otherwise impressive campaign. The opponents were the BlackCaps.
In the 2016 edition of the T20 World Cup, the result was no different. Mitchell Santner's four-wicket haul reduced the Indian unit to a meagre 79 while they were chasing a 126-run total in Nagpur.
New Zealand also have an upper hand overall in the T20I contests against India, with eight wins in 16 meetings.
