Favourites India take on Dutch, Pakistan eye first win

After an inspiring victory in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup against Pakistan, India will look to make it two-in-two against the only associate member in the Super 12 -- the Netherlands -- at the SCG in Sydney, while Pakistan will look to bounce back from their India heartbreak and register their first win against Zimbabwe, who have never managed to beat Pakistan in an ICC event, at the Optus Stadium in Perth today.

India would have all the momentum following their triumph against arch-rivals Pakistan as fans witnessed the genius of Virat Kohli, who produced one of his finest on a grand stage to take India home. The bowlers also pulled their weight; Arshdeep Singh in particular, with his 3-32, starred the prized wickets of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and their batting lynchpin Mohammad Rizwan.

With all these things coming together for India, their opponents, the Netherlands can only do so much to cause jitters in the Indian camp.

India are able to breathe a bit easier after getting their T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan out of the way but bowling coach Paras Mhambrey says there is no scope of letting the intensity drop against the Netherlands.

The Netherlands are not expected to present inaugural champions India with as many problems as Pakistan did but Mhambrey said they would not take the minnows lightly.

"Every game from here is important," the former India bowler said.

"Every team that's part of the tournament has worked its way up, has done something good and that's the reason they are here, and we take it like that."

Moving onto Perth, Pakistan, on the back of the anguish of losing points in the last over against India, will look to maximise their pace battery against Zimbabwe, who faltered facing the South African fast bowlers in their opening Super 12 fixture.

Skipper Babar would be at ease about the resurgence of Pakistan's middle-order, especially after he and fellow opener Rizwan failed to lay a foundation in their India clash.

But it might be a tricky affair as the African side have got the better of Pakistan on two occasions in the past couple of years, once in Rawalpindi and then in Harare. Craig Ervine's side already have the confidence of the gift of point they got against the Proteas due to the match being washed out, and considering some of the results so far in this World Cup, an upset is never too far away.