Canada v India Prediction: Weather likely to rain on Arshdeep’s parade

It’s Canada v India on Saturday, June 14 (15:30, Sky Sports Cricket) at Lauderhill but the smart money is on there not being a game at all due to atrocious weather.

That’s the bad news but the good news is that James Pacheco is fresh from winners on Trent Boult (16/5) and Arshdeep Singh (4/1) from his last four tips so if they do play, there are some good selections to look forward to again with Arshdeep at 4/1 and Nicholas Kirton at 9/2 carrying his money this time as we go through our India vs Canada T20 World Cup Predictions...

India

There were some nervy moments in what should have been a relatively straightforward chase against the USA. Not that the New York track has been an easy track to bat on, far from it, but chasing 111 with one of the world’s best batting line-ups against a side who are no fools but very new to this level, shouldn’t have been an issue at all.

In the end a very composed and unlikely 50 off 49 (he normally scores much quicker) from Sky Yadav got India home while Shivam Dube played his part too with 31 off 35.

They can thank the bowlers in doing all the hard work in the first half of the match for restricting the co-hosts to such a low target, chiefly our man Arshdeep Singh, who was a top bowler winner for us at 4/1, returning barely-believable figures of 4/9 off four overs.

Interestingly, of the two all-rounders, it’s Hardik Pandya who has been by far the busiest, often bowling four overs while Ravindra Jadeja didn’t bowl at all against the USA. It’s very unlike India to change their side when they’re winning so the same XI are likely to play again.

Possible XI: Sharma, Kohli, Pant, Yadav, Dube, Pandya, Jadeja, Axar, Singh Bumrah, Siraj.

Canada

Canada have been pretty decent so far and have already recorded one win against all odds when beating Ireland.

They also gave Pakistan a little bit of a scare with some early boundaries and made the chase slightly uncomfortable for them. Another 25 runs on that New York track and it really would have been close.

Experienced bowler Dilon Heyliger has been superb, returning figures of 1/19, 2/18 and 2/18 from his three matches so far.

On a nightmare track where many of the world’s best have really struggled with the bat, Aaron Johnson hit a super 52 off 44 against Pakistan and looks the class act in their batting line-up.

Qualification to the next stage is highly unlikely but they certainly haven’t disgraced themselves at the tournament.

Possible XI: Johnson, Dhaliwal, Singh, Kirton, Movva, R Singh, Sana, Heylinger, Siddiqui, Gordon.

Pitch and conditions

We really don’t have much to go on at Lauderhill because the one match there this tournament – Nepal v Sri Lanka- was rained off without a ball being bowled.

There might very well be more of the same here with thunderstorms predicted at least until Monday. Washouts would play into the hands of the USA, who would qualify to the next stage at the expense of Pakistan, who are relying on Ireland doing them a favour on Friday.

How Babar Azam’s men will be rueing that meltdown against India last Sunday.

India vs Canada Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main India vs Canada T20 World Cup market page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

India are 1/40 to win the match. They wobbled in that chase against the USA and were huge outsiders at one stage during the win against Pakistan but it was easy to make a case for either of those sides because they both have potent weapons.

It may all prove to be irrelevant. One bookmaker is offering odds of just 1.1 that the match won’t be completed due to the persistent rain and storms.

It should mean on less match for Canada to enjoy on the biggest stage while India probably won’t be too fussed either way.

Canada Top Batsman

The aforementioned Aaron Johnson has impressed and that half-century against Pakistan was no fluke. In 19 T20 matches he averages an excellent 47 and that includes two centuries and six fifties. Five of those matches were against a good USA side, so it’s not like he’s flat-track bully; Johnson is the 11/4 favourite.

However, if we do get a game he’ll have to face the virtually unplayable Arshdeep, brilliant Jasprit Bumrah and awkward lengths of Mohammad Siraj in the first few overs.

Protected down the order is keeper Nicholas Kirton who hit 51 against USA and 49 against Ireland before being unlucky to be run out against Pakistan. He therefore rates a better wager at 9/2.

India Top Bowler

Rinse and repeat Yes, please.

The reasons for backing Arshdeep last time were that he bowls at the beginning and death overs when wickets are most likely to fall, that he has an excellent career record and that he’s almost twice the price of favourite Bumrah (23/10).

To that you can now add he’s their joint top-wicket taker at the tournament with seven (surprisingly alongside Pandya who is 9/2). Even more reason to take the 4/1 again.

Jamie Pacheco predominantly covers Cricket for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out his Cricket Betting Tips, along with those from the rest of the team, at our Cricket hub page...