On the eve of the India’s do or die match against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens on March 19 Ravichandran Ashwin said that “we have to win” as there is no other option available. He also rated the India-Pakistan match bigger than the Ashes
India, in their first match, lost by 45 runs to New Zealand. The Kiwi spinners bamboozled India at a sticky wicket in Nagpur.
So, India will be under pressure when they will take on Pakistan, who defeated Bangladesh by 55 runs in their first match at the Eden Gardens.
Ashwin said, “we are used to handling pressure. It’s nothing new for us.”
Asked about Nagpur match’s 79 runs all out, Ashwin said in a light manner, “If we knew we will score 79 (vs NZ), we would have tried to restrict the opposition.”
When asked what troubled India in the New Zealand match, Ashwin said, “I can’t put a finger on one thing.”
What is India team thinking before the big Pakistan match, Ashwin said, “It’s about discussing game plans and revisiting our strategies.”
And he rated the match against Pakistan “bigger than the Ashes.”
Ashwin on Thursday did not practice, so a journalist asked why he skipped the practice, “We tried to relax,” Ashwin stated.
He also said that India will come back strongly in the tournament. “I have always said momentum is very important. We will try to get it back after Nagpur,” Ashwin, who addressed the media, stated.
Ashwin was also asked whether Pawan Negi will play or not. He said, “I don’t know if Negi will play.” But he didn’t rule out Negi’s chance to play the match. “ If he does, all the best to him,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin was asked what plan he has made for the Pakistan batsmen, he said, “I don’t keep it simple. I plan a lot but we don’t sit together and over-plan.”