In an interview with the ICC prior to the eagerly anticipated match between India and Pakistan, former India player Suresh Raina shared his opinions. He stated:
The match between India and Pakistan is unlike any other, and the entire globe will be watching what is sure to be another exciting match between these two foes. India’s challenge will be managing the pressure. We are aware of how significant the event is when we play Pakistan since many famous people attend and they play in front of 120,000 spectators in Ahmedabad. It’s always a spectacular show, and this one won’t disappoint.
Both teams are very confident going into the game because they had won their last two games. It perfectly frames the game. India must perform as normally as possible. They are able to handle pressure since we have faced Pakistan seven times in 50-over World Cups and have never lost.
The fact that Virat Kohli enjoys the big game is excellent news for India. He wants to be the hero and the man of the moment whenever Pakistan appears. He is known as the King of the Chase for this reason.
He does well in this environment because he is under a lot of strain. Even though he claims it’s only a game, he gets ready extremely differently. He loves to hang out with the boys and consumes a lot of Punjabi music. And when the fight begins, he turns on like a professional fighter.
It has been fantastic for Indians to watch Jasprit Bumrah play so wonderfully. He is swinging the fresh ball quickly while bowling. The fact that he is finishing 10 overs is his strongest quality, though. That was demonstrated in the Asia Cup and against Australia. He is relishing the buildup. He is an Ahmedabad native, therefore he will also like the pressure.
Naturally, we shouldn’t disregard Pakistan‘s own excellent fast bowling lineup. In good form, Shaheen Shah Afridi will swing the ball up front. The openers must be extremely cautious when batting against him.
Rohit Sharma set a new World Cup record by scoring his seventh century against Afghanistan, proving his form. Ishan Kishan also received some significant runs beside him. India’s openers taking on Pakistan’s opening bowling combo can be crucial to the outcome of the match.
India has an advantage, in my opinion, in the spin department. We saw at the Asia Cup that Pakistan had trouble with them, and India has a lot of threats in Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and perhaps R Ashwin.
Imam-ul-Haq in particular has had some difficulty for Pakistan at the top of the order, despite Abdullah Shafique’s strong play. In order to win, they will most likely need a strong effort from Babar Azam.
They can falter under pressure in these situations, as we have seen in previous World Cup games. India must therefore make sure that they capitalize on their position of strength. Pakistan must not be allowed to retake the game.
Playing the game’s circumstance is another important factor. I clearly recall having to bat with the tail in the semi-final game in 2011 with the score at 187 for 5. On that particular day, I was aware that I needed to put all of the expectations aside and concentrate solely on the task at hand.
Virat and I were able to bat together for 15 overs and add 100 runs four years later when I came and joined him in the middle. Put up those partnerships of 10 to 15 overs and you can completely put the pressure on Pakistan, which is crucial in this game.
I believe India has a higher chance of winning since we have demonstrated our ability to manage tight situations, but there will be a lot of pressure because the entire world will be watching.
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