India vs Scotland World Cup Match 37 Predictions, Odds, Picks

• This is a must-win game for India to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
• Having conceded an average of 159 runs in their three Super 12 matches, the Scottish bowlers are expected to be under the cosh against India.
• Early wickets with the ball will be the key for India, who have scalped only three wickets in the powerplay in their last three matches.

India vs Scotland Odds

Odds taken from BetMGM

Provided weather does not play spoilsport, which it is not expected to, this will be the first completed T20I game between India and Scotland. These two sides have crossed swords only once in the past, which was back in the 2007 edition of this very competition. Scotland won the toss and decided to bowl at Kingsmead, Durban. However, owing to incessant downpour, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Given the gulf in class between the two sides, and also Scotland’s unimpressive form, India are by far the favorites for this clash.

India to Win (-4000)

India vs Scotland Prediction

Predicted XI

India: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Scotland: George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Richie Berrington, Dylan Budge/Calum MacLeod, Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Safyaan Sharif, Josh Davey/Alasdair Evans, Bradley Wheal

Clutching at Straws, Pegged Back India Are Living to Fight Another Day

Having started their campaign in the worst manner possible, India finally found their rhythm, and subsequently a win, in their last match against Afghanistan. Batting first for the umpteenth time, the Indian batters broke free from their shell of tameness and scored 210 runs. The bowling unit complimented the batters well, as they restricted Afghanistan to 144.

This victory has not only handed India two much-needed points, but a massive net run rate boost as well. While their fate hinges on outcomes of other matches, the Men in Blue have successfully avoided the heartbreak of elimination for a few days at least. They will now take on Scotland, who have lost all of their three Super 12 matches.

Team News

After persisting with Varun Chakravarthy in the initial stages, the Indian team management finally turned their attention to Ravichandran Ashwin in the last match against Afghanistan. The wily, old fox did not disappoint, as he picked up the crucial wickets of Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran. He is expected to retain his place, alongside almost everyone else from the previous playing XI, barring perhaps Shardul Thakur. Given a chance in the playing XI because of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s lack of form, Thakur failed to grab the opportunity, as he conceded 31 runs in his three overs in the last match. A wicket should still have nailed his place, but with nothing to show for, Thakur could make way for Bhuvneshwar Kumar in this game.

Calum MacLeod was considered as a batter Scotland could trust in their bad days, but he has been very underwhelming in this competition. With nothing much to play for, Scotland could give Dylan Budge a chance in MacLeod’s place. Alasdair Evans is another player who might get the axe, after conceding 48 runs in the last match. Josh Davey will be the perfect replacement for him.

Key Players

Rohit Sharma: After a duck against Pakistan and mere 14 runs against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma finally returned to his best in the last match against Afghanistan. Being reinstated as an opener, India’s reported would-be T20I skipper played a fantastic knock of 74 runs from only 47 deliveries, hitting 8 fours and 3 sixes in the process.

Rishabh Pant: While Sharma and KL Rahul provided India with the solid start, they would not have crossed the 200-run mark against Afghanistan, had it not been for Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandy;a’s finishing act. The former scored 27 runs from 13 deliveries, which took his total tally of runs to 78. The wicketkeeper also played a resolute knock of 39 runs against Pakistan.

How to Watch India vs Scotland