• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Watch Hardik Pandya Ravindra Jadeja Share Insights On India Pak Rivalry Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023

[WATCH] Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja Share Insights On India-Pak Rivalry Ahead of Asia Cup 2023

Vaibhav Tripathi

image-ll7r0i90Ravindra Jadeja (L) and Hardik Pandya (R). (Twitter)

In anticipation of the highly awaited clash between India and Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, star Indian all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have shared their thoughts on facing their arch-rivals.

Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been affected by strained political relations over the past decade and a half, leading to matches being played only in multi-team events. The most recent encounter between the two teams occurred during last year's T20 World Cup, where India secured a thrilling victory over Pakistan thanks to a memorable innings from superstar Virat Kohli. The teams are set to face each other once again next month in the Asia Cup.

India's campaign in the continental championship will kick off on September 2 with an enticing clash against Pakistan. According to the schedule released by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the two teams are also scheduled to meet in a Super 4 clash in Colombo on September 10. If both teams qualify for the final, there is the possibility of a third Indo-Pak encounter within a span of 15 days, with the final slated for September 17 at the Premadasa Stadium.

A month later, India and Pakistan are set to face off once again in the ICC World Cup 2023 on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

In a video released by Star Sports, Hardik Pandya emphasized the need to focus on the game amidst the external hype, stating,

"It’s a game at the end of the day, a lot of things are created. Its hype is there outside, which we all understand, a lot of people have emotions attached to the game. For us, we have to make sure that we keep the outside noise outside and make sure we can focus on the things, which we should be focusing."

Pandya’s teammate and spin bowling all-rounder-Jadeja echoed this sentiment, saying,

"Whenever there is an India-Pakistan match, everyone expects a lot and wants us to win the match at any cost. But for us, any match for India is as important as the match against Pakistan."

The six-team Asia Cup, serving as a precursor to the ICC World Cup, will commence on August 30 in Multan, where Pakistan, the host, will take on Nepal. The Asia Cup follows a Hybrid Model, with four matches scheduled in Pakistan and nine, including the final, set to be held in Kandy and Colombo, Sri Lanka.