Pakistan Always Played Their Hearts Out Against India: Suresh Raina

Mumbai: As India & Pakistan both have geared up for another high voltage clash in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina stated that Pakistan always played their hearts out against the men in blue.

Sharing his experience in his column for the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday, Raina wrote, “My experience in matches against Pakistan was that they always played their hearts out.”

Team India will lock horns with Pakistan in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup on Sunday (October 24) evening at 7:30 pm IST at the Dubai International Stadium.

He added, “When India and Pakistan play, it’s always exciting and good for fans to watch. Many millions of people tune in and expect to be entertained – they are never disappointed. That was true from the start at the T20 World Cup and then they met in the final of the first tournament, with India winning by five runs.”

The two teams met at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time in the group stages in 2007 when India won in a bowl-out.

Suresh Raina also said that the only way to try to win the game is by calming your nerves, focusing on the process and playing 40 overs of good cricket.

“I was involved in the games in 2014 and 2016. If you ask me, as a player, it was always a high-pressure game. In the build-up, everyone is just telling you how big it is. You need to make sure you calm your nerves, focus on the process and play 40 overs of good cricket. It’s easier said than done, but it’s the only way to try to win that game,” he said.

Virat Kohli and Co. will face-off against Babar Azam-led Pakistan almost after 2 years, to rekindle the age-old rivalry. Pakistan is yet to get again the lead over their rivals in World Cups as the head-to-head has been heavily dominated by the Men in Blue.

“This year, it will be exciting as both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are excellent leaders, and knowing how important the game is, there will be so much passion on show from both teams. You know that the captains will set the example on that front and that passion filters through to the rest of the team. Babar is one of the leading T201 batters in the world. Like Virat Kohli, he is proof that good batting and good captaincy go hand in hand,” Raina pointed.

The stakes are at an all-time high with Kohli and Co. to continue their dominance against Pakistan in this clash. Both sides have a strong lineup and on the day of this major fixture, only time will tell which side will emerge triumphantly.

India is unbeaten against Pakistan in T20 World Cup, just like 50 over the world cup. Both teams have faced each other five times in T20 World Cup and India have gotten the better of their neighbours on all five occasions.

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