The great rivalry resumes
India take on Pakistan looking to stretch proud record over arch-rivals
India take on Pakistan looking to stretch proud record over arch-rivals. PHOTO: AFP
KOLKATA:
MS Dhoni’s India will be looking to bounce back from their shock opening defeat when they take on a resurgent Pakistan in today’s World T20 blockbuster in Kolkata.
Red-hot favourites India were stunned by an unfancied New Zealand side on Tuesday when they were dismissed for 79 in Nagpur — their lowest score on home turf in T20Is.
Love not war as India, Pakistan resume rivalry for World T20 face-off
But India’s limited-overs skipper has full faith in his side that came into the tournament on the back of 10 wins in 11 T20I matches, including their victory in the Asia Cup.
“What’s important is how to turn around and how to come back strong, and I think this team has done this plenty of times,” said Dhoni after the New Zealand loss.
Following their stumbles in Nagpur, India’s frontline batsmen — Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli — will have to find their feet against a hostile Pakistan pace attack which includes the in-form Mohammad Amir.
The Pakistani paceman ended with impressive figures of 2-27 in his team’s victorious opener against Bangladesh. And although India registered a commanding victory over Pakistan in last month’s Asia Cup, their batsmen were far from comfortable against Amir, with Kohli congratulating him for an ‘amazing’ spell of bowling.
While the pitch in Nagpur turned dramatically, Eden Gardens is seen as offering more bounce and Dhoni could well be tempted to play a fit-again Mohammed Shami on the speedster’s home ground.
7 facts you need to know ahead of Pakistan-India WorldT20 clash
Pakistan had come into the tournament in woeful form and their preparations were not helped by a row over security which led to the match being switched from Dharamsala to Kolkata.
But their trouncing of Bangladesh has banished the gloom, with skipper Shahid Afridi leading from the front by spanking a 19-ball 49 and then bagging two key wickets in the 55-run win.
Afridi said the result was a ‘morale booster’ ahead of the clash between the South Asian titans who are both former World T20 champions.
But he downplayed the significance of India’s opening match upset. “They have been playing good cricket though they lost their last game,” said Afridi.
‘Rivalry bigger than Ashes’
Ravichandran Ashwin termed the India-Pakistan rivalry ‘bigger than the Ashes’ ahead of today’s clash.
“This rivalry is huge, it’s very hard to put a finger and tell how huge it is. It’s probably bigger than the Ashes,” said Ashwin in the pre-match press conference. “As far as Indians and Pakistanis go, I don’t think they watch this as a game of cricket. It’s more of a border rivalry.”
The off-spinner admitted the players need to calm their emotions. “The fans put their emotions into the game. For the players it’s trying keeping their emotions aside and playing the game the best way we can,” he said.
Abdul Basit granted visa for Pakistan, India T20 clash
Like Dhoni, Ashwin was also confident of making up for the loss against New Zealand. “I think if ever there is an international team that can put the opening loss behind, it is us,” he said. “From here on if we go through we will be probably more dangerous than we were at the start of the tournament.”
Just another game: Waqar
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis attempted to downplay the hype surrounding the game, saying it was ultimately just a game of cricket.
“We should take it as a sport,” said Waqar. “There is history between the two nations, not only culturally but also cricket history. The way we have played cricket in the past 50 years it’s a treat to watch for the world. It’s the most watched game. So we should all cherish that and feel proud of it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2016.
MS Dhoni’s India will be looking to bounce back from their shock opening defeat when they take on a resurgent Pakistan in today’s World T20 blockbuster in Kolkata.
Red-hot favourites India were stunned by an unfancied New Zealand side on Tuesday when they were dismissed for 79 in Nagpur — their lowest score on home turf in T20Is.
Love not war as India, Pakistan resume rivalry for World T20 face-off
But India’s limited-overs skipper has full faith in his side that came into the tournament on the back of 10 wins in 11 T20I matches, including their victory in the Asia Cup.
“What’s important is how to turn around and how to come back strong, and I think this team has done this plenty of times,” said Dhoni after the New Zealand loss.
Following their stumbles in Nagpur, India’s frontline batsmen — Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli — will have to find their feet against a hostile Pakistan pace attack which includes the in-form Mohammad Amir.
The Pakistani paceman ended with impressive figures of 2-27 in his team’s victorious opener against Bangladesh. And although India registered a commanding victory over Pakistan in last month’s Asia Cup, their batsmen were far from comfortable against Amir, with Kohli congratulating him for an ‘amazing’ spell of bowling.
While the pitch in Nagpur turned dramatically, Eden Gardens is seen as offering more bounce and Dhoni could well be tempted to play a fit-again Mohammed Shami on the speedster’s home ground.
7 facts you need to know ahead of Pakistan-India WorldT20 clash
Pakistan had come into the tournament in woeful form and their preparations were not helped by a row over security which led to the match being switched from Dharamsala to Kolkata.
But their trouncing of Bangladesh has banished the gloom, with skipper Shahid Afridi leading from the front by spanking a 19-ball 49 and then bagging two key wickets in the 55-run win.
Afridi said the result was a ‘morale booster’ ahead of the clash between the South Asian titans who are both former World T20 champions.
But he downplayed the significance of India’s opening match upset. “They have been playing good cricket though they lost their last game,” said Afridi.
‘Rivalry bigger than Ashes’
Ravichandran Ashwin termed the India-Pakistan rivalry ‘bigger than the Ashes’ ahead of today’s clash.
“This rivalry is huge, it’s very hard to put a finger and tell how huge it is. It’s probably bigger than the Ashes,” said Ashwin in the pre-match press conference. “As far as Indians and Pakistanis go, I don’t think they watch this as a game of cricket. It’s more of a border rivalry.”
The off-spinner admitted the players need to calm their emotions. “The fans put their emotions into the game. For the players it’s trying keeping their emotions aside and playing the game the best way we can,” he said.
Abdul Basit granted visa for Pakistan, India T20 clash
Like Dhoni, Ashwin was also confident of making up for the loss against New Zealand. “I think if ever there is an international team that can put the opening loss behind, it is us,” he said. “From here on if we go through we will be probably more dangerous than we were at the start of the tournament.”
Just another game: Waqar
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis attempted to downplay the hype surrounding the game, saying it was ultimately just a game of cricket.
“We should take it as a sport,” said Waqar. “There is history between the two nations, not only culturally but also cricket history. The way we have played cricket in the past 50 years it’s a treat to watch for the world. It’s the most watched game. So we should all cherish that and feel proud of it.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2016.