India-Pakistan match ‘not an ordinary game’: Suryakumar

Sports Desk
India captain Suryakumar Yadav openly admitted that the match against Pakistan was much more than just another ordinary match, despite trying to look at it as just another ordinary match.

The two arch-rivals will face off in a high-voltage Group ‘A’ match in the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Speaking at a press conference at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday ahead of the clash, Suryakumar said, ‘This is definitely a big stage. Even if you call it a simple match on the face of it, at the end of the day it is a very big fight.’

All the tickets for this most talked about match in the cricket world have already been sold out. In addition to the stadium with a capacity of 35 thousand spectators, millions of people will be watching this blockbuster match on television screens. However, there was uncertainty about this match until last Monday night. The match was confirmed only after the Pakistan government changed its previous position and lifted its decision to boycott.

Talking about the two teams facing each other, the Indian captain said, “We don’t play them much, not regularly. But we try to keep things simple and play our best game. There is pressure here, but there is also a big opportunity. For me, the atmosphere of an India-Pakistan match is different.”

After the controversy over shaking hands in three matches of the Asia Cup in Dubai last year, he has kept the mystery alive as to whether Indian cricketers will show courtesy or not. Suryakumar said, “I will break this mystery tomorrow. For now, wait 24 hours, let us focus on our game.”

India have won their first two matches in the World Cup. After a convincing win over the United States in the first match, they have blown away Namibia. However, Suryakumar is not overly concerned about the unusual bowling action of Pakistan’s new spinner Usman Tariq. He said, “We have practiced enough in the nets against bowlers with such action.”

In a relief message for the Indian camp, the captain said that opener Abhishek Sharma has recovered from a stomach problem and is likely to play. With both teams winning their first two matches, the winner of Sunday’s match will automatically qualify for the Super Eights.