An India-Pakistan clash can never be called a dead rubber, stressed former skipper Sunil Gavaskar, as the arch-rivals gear up for their next Champions Trophy match, the outcome of which will have no bearing on their fortunes in the tournament.
India have already made it to the semifinals and Pakistan are certain to fly back, having lost their first two matches.
"No such thing as dead rubber when India and Pakistan are playing. Results are important for followers of both the countries," Gavaskar said.
"India would certainly want to win as they would to continue with the winning rhythm. If you lose, you start to doubt yourself and India would want to avoid it," he told NDTV.
Gavaskar said it was all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja with his bowling, who set up India's thumping eight-wicket victory over West Indies yesterday.
"Jadeja turned the match in India's favour. West Indies were looking set for a score of 250+ and even 300. He turned the match with his bowling on a pitch that didn't have much help," he said of Jadeja who took his maiden five-wicket haul.
Praising the Delhi opener Shikhar Dhawan, Gavaskar said the heartening thing about him is he is making his good form count by scoring huge runs.
"He (Dhawan) was left out of the team which has helped him reorganise his cricket and get better. He is in very good form and the good thing is he is capitalising on it," he said.
