IND vs PAK: Every Indian Player Will Know They Can't Lose Against Pakistan - Makhaya Ntini

Former South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has insisted a lot will be at stake when India and Pakistan lock horns against each other in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup.

The much-awaited clash between the arch-rivals is scheduled to take place on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It will be the first ODI match between the two sides since the clash between them at the 2019 World Cup in England. Back then, India had registered a comfortable victory over the Men in Green to extend their unbeaten record against them in the World Cup.

Two years later, Pakistan ended their winless record against India in the World Cup by winning the match in the 2021 T20 World Cup. India, however, avenged the loss in last year’s T20 World Cup. India are yet to lose a game against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup and will be looking to maintain that record in the upcoming tournament.

Makhaya Ntini on India-Pakistan clash:

The Indian and Pakistan fans are eagerly waiting for their respective teams to fight it out in the World Cup. Makhaya Ntini has opined that not only India and Pakistan but the entire sporting world is waiting for the game to take place. He recalled the thrilling game between the arch-rivals in the T20 World Cup last year and said that the team with better pressure-handling ability would come out on top.

“Ah, it is not just the cricket world that is looking at this game. It is the entire sports world that will follow this game. When these two sides play a World Cup match, it is a very different thing. We had seen it last year in Australia in Melbourne. And the game lived up to the billing with Virat Kohli playing one of the best knocks ever,” Makhaya Ntini told RevSportz.

“On Indian soil, the intensity will be even more. Every Indian player will know this is one game they can’t lose. Every Pakistani player will know this is one game they need to win, and if they do, they are superheroes back home. So imagine what all is at stake. It will boil down to pressure and who handles pressure better. Shaheen Afridi bowling fast and inswing against Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill could well be the defining moment in the World Cup,” he added.

Before the World Cup match, India and Pakistan are also scheduled to take on each other in the forthcoming Asia Cup. The match between them is scheduled to take place on September 2. There is a possibility of two more India-Pakistan games in the Asia Cup if both teams manage to make it to the final.