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Former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble emphasised the need for players to look at the India-Pakistan cricket showdown as any other game, cautioning against succumbing to the overwhelming pressure such a match entails. The cricketing maestro reflected on the intense hype surrounding the iconic clashes, mentioning that during his tenure, the sentiment was so fervent that fans would rather see India lose to teams like Kenya than suffer defeat to Pakistan.
Speaking at the Bengaluru launch of 'Pitchside', a memoir by seasoned cricket administrator Amrit Mathur, Kumble shared, "Matches between India and Pakistan come with immense pressure and heightened expectations. The trick is to handle it like any other game."
This candid conversation also saw the presence of cricketing luminaries like former batter VVS Laxman and ex-wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani.
On September 2, the world will once again witness the electrifying face-off between India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2023, set at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The memories of their gripping encounter in the 2022 T20 World Cup at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) are still fresh. That thrilling match saw cricketing sensation Virat Kohli steer the Men in Blue to a spectacular last-ball victory over the Babar Azam-led Pakistani side.
Kumble, who holds the rare accolade of a 10-wicket haul against Pakistan, recalled, "Never did I step onto the pitch with a 10-wicket haul in mind, though it's every bowler's aspiration. Yet, in the subsequent Asian Test Championship match against Pakistan in Kolkata, I grappled to even clinch a single wicket. Such is the unpredictable charm of cricket."
Amrit Mathur, delving into his book, shed light on the stringent security measures adopted during their tours to Pakistan. "From police escorts for our team bus to helicopters patrolling overhead and the deployment of the Rapid Action Force at key locations - the security detail was so exhaustive that some players questioned its necessity. Yet, thanks to these arrangements, the tours always concluded without a hitch," he detailed.
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