When all other factors become irrelevant
early hours. There was no scope for mistakes in an India-Pakistan clash. Every action was discussed at length. The bowlers were not allowed to send down balls which went for fours or sixes, and the batsmen were not allowed to play dot balls. That was the kind of pressure we put the players under. Very little has changed.
I have heard a lot about how, having won all five matches between the teams in the World Cup, the law of averages can catch up with India. I believe India have the edge, but as we have seen so often in the past, you write Pakistan off at your peril. What is undeniable is that India’s batsmen will have to steer this match. There can be no slip-ups as far as the batsmen are concerned, at least four of the top six batsmen will have to click in every match, especially in this game. If India are looking up to Virat to deliver, Pakistan would put up Umar Akmal to give impetus.
The teams need to be savvy enough to set targets, and keep reassessing them as the game unfolds. The important thing is to not just aim to win but navigate through every hour of the sevenhour game. Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal bring depth into Paksitan’s line-up. The dangerous Afridi and the tall Irfan’s bowling could be the talking point in India’s team meetings. In the end it is basically a tug of war between the two batting units. And despite the skill sets Pakistan batsmen possess, India seem the stronger batting unit.
The other intriguing thing about India versus Pakistan match is that pressure neutralises the absence of key player. Irrespective of who the personnel might be, this is essentially a mustwin game for both teams. Factors such as the playing XI, weather conditions, nature of the pitch – all that become totally irrelevant. When you strip it down to the bare minimum, it’s all about performing. Nothing can take the intensity out of this contest.
This is one match that will help the players make a huge impact on the psyche of the fans. Star performers from this match will set themselves up for greater things to come. That will be the ultimate goal, but for that, the immediate, non-negotiable goal must be attained on Sunday – victory, sweet victory.
The writer is an ex-India pace bowler
HAWKEYE / CHIVACH SPORTS 9:00am, Australia v England, live on Star Sports 1, 3, HD1, HD3.
6:30am (Sunday), South Africa v Zimbabwe, live on Star Sports 2, 4, HD2, HD4.