Yes, this is India versus Pakistan and Kolkata gives you the vibe of the big event with every step. Across the team hotel, the streets and the roads leading to the Eden Gardens all give you just one picture - India are playing Pakistan in a World Cup clash. The occasion is big and with India being one down in the competition, a fightback is expected from the home side.
Speaking about the rivalry, India spinner R Ashwin said, “This rivalry is huge. It’s very hard to put a finger and say how huge it is. It’s probably bigger than the Ashes is. As far as the Indians go and the Pakistanis go, I don’t think they watch this as a game of cricket. It’s more of a border rivalry. They want to get one up on each other. So there is much more to this game rather than the game itself taking centre-stage. As far as people are concerned, they put their emotions into it. For the players it’s about trying to keep the emotions aside and playing the game the best we can.”
Ashwin also said the team would be looking to stage a comeback but won’t be under pressure to perform, especially after a loss in the first game. “I don’t think we really see a lot of pressure in this game. We are used to playing a lot of India games. Every game that India plays is a pressure game,” Ashwin said. “It is the T20 World Cup and we have almost put ourselves in a position where we have to win every game from here. I think that’s more important and pertinent.
“I think if ever there is an international team that can put it behind and go forward, it’s us. And it’s not the first time it has happened to us. We have done it in the past. Let’s just assume we go through to the final after the previous game. In 2014, we hadn’t lost a game and there was every chance that we would lose the final. So why not from here on if go through to the final, we will be more dangerous than we were at the start of the tournament?”
Elaborating on the need for momentum going forward, Ashwin said, “Leading up to the World Cup, I have always maintained that the momentum is very important. We managed to ditch some momentum in Nagpur and we have to pick it up from Eden Gardens. We are a team that believes in individual planning. We don’t sit together as such and cram a lot of stuff into each other’s head. Everybody has a different plan.
“I don’t keep it simple. I plan quite a lot and I believe in that and it’s has given me lots of success in the past. That’s how I have played my cricket all along. We take it as easy as possible and Pakistan game is something we will take even lighter.”
