There’s nothing like the match of India and Pakistan on the cricket field. The batsmen, bowlers, the fans all are off their seats at every ball. One of the best arch-rivals will be up against each other on Sunday, June 16. With young cricketers starring at the World Cup 2019, Harbhajan Singh warns India’s budding stars of the sleepless night ahead of the IND-PAK game. The first Indian bowler to get a hat-trick in Test matches knows better than anyone what the India-Pakistan match means.
When it comes to cricket, the two nations are at their best, and the reflection could very well be seen whenever they face each other out on the field. Both the teams fight tooth and nails with some extra spirit fueling their veins. And with the record of being unbeaten by Pakistan in the six World Cup encounters, the tension surpasses the imaginations.
Experienced Harbhajan warns India of sleepless nights, ahead of IND-PAK clash
Sharing his experience, Harbhajan said that cricket is a big deal for both nations’ people. And IND-PAK being the mother of all the contest of cricket in the world, the emotions are high whenever they are facing each other. His experience from the 2003 World Cup when they couldn’t play as well against Australia, give him goosebumps yet.
“People get angry and they can do anything. In the 2003 World Cup, we didn’t play one game as well as we should have against Australia and people got really angry.
“They were just burning our stuff and throwing stones at our homes. They get a bit emotional,” said Harbhajan.
This experience will definitely leave one with its imprints and it certainly happened with India’s second highest wicket-taker as a spin bowler. And the incident certainly haunted him prior to the big semi-final game of the 2011 World Cup against Pakistan.
“The memories of that game was I couldn’t sleep the night before, even though I tried my best,” Harbhajan said.
“I was just worried about what would happen if we lost the game. There were a lot of thoughts coming into my mind,” shares Harbhajan.
However, India defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in the game, where Harbhajan ended with the figures of 2/43.
Pakistan game gives you sleepless nights before and after the match, says Bhajji
India kept the chain going on and defeated Pakistan, yet Harbhajan couldn’t sleep the night next after the match. Harbhajan described that the feeling is something out of the world. The adrenaline doesn’t let you sleep, especially with the giddiness of making things work.
“When we won the game I couldn’t sleep the next day either because I was too excited and too happy. That’s what the Pakistan game does to you,” he said.
“Obviously it’s one of those games when the pressure is a little more than when you play against England or New Zealand,” he added.
The 38-year-old spinner played 17 times against Pakistan in a 236-match ODI career for India. Whereas, India have never lost to them at a World Cup, winning at the last two tournaments. Last time, the two teams saw each other in any ICC event was in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where Pakistan crushed India by 180 runs.
And India is favourites to extend that run when the rivalry resumes in Manchester. The emotions will be certainly at par, as either country’s people want their respective teams to win the match.
“As a player, you always want to play well against Pakistan, so there is more pressure. It’s not just for Indian players but for Pakistani players as well,” he said.
“But there is more pressure on the Indian players because we have a very good record in these games and we don’t want to change that.”
Virat Kohli-led India will face their arch-rivals after a long time. As far as Pakistan is concerned, they will like to turn the tables, India will have higher pressure with being one of the favourites. Laced with young dynamites, India’s players can’t take Pakistan as an easy target based on their past ICC records. Mohammed Amir will be the key player of Pakistan that the skipper Kohli will have to keep an eye on if rain doesn’t halt the cherished IND-PAK match on Sunday.