The cricket world is buzzing with excitement for the upcoming clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. This highly anticipated match is scheduled for June 9 in New York City. This will be the first time India and Pakistan face off this year. Their last encounter was a humiliating defeat for Pakistan in the ODI World Cup last year. It's also the first T20I between the two teams since their classic encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the T20 World Cup 2022. Fans vividly remember Virat Kohli's monumental knock that secured a near-impossible victory for India a couple of years ago. The Men in Blue will be hoping to repeat that feat in the upcoming match.
Adding to the pre-match hype, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has issued a timely warning to the current skipper Rohit Sharma and his team.
Ganguly wants India to be wary of Pakistan in T20 World Cup
Sourav Ganguly offered some interesting advice for the Indian team ahead of their clash with Pakistan. He started by reminding them of their strong record against their rivals, building confidence. However, Ganguly also cautioned the team not to underestimate Pakistan, acknowledging their strength in the T20 format. He emphasized the need for the Men in Blue to be wary of their opponent's capabilities. Interestingly, he didn't just advocate for caution. Ganguly also stressed the importance of India playing with freedom. He believes that a relaxed and uninhibited approach will be key to securing a good result in this high-pressure match.
"Our record against Pakistan has been very, very good over a long period of time. In the T20 format, probably Pakistan is more dangerous compared to 50- overs (format). We beat them in Ahmedabad when they came to India and we beat them easily. India is superior and if they play well, if they play freely and I keep saying the word 'freely' all the time because (in) the last World Cup in Australia, I don't think we played freely," Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
"Just put all the cobwebs behind. Don't worry about winning or losing. Don't think about winning the World Cup. Just go and play every game," Ganguly further stated.
India have very good chances in the World Cup: Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly wasn't just focused on the India versus Pakistan clash. He also weighed in on India's overall chances in the T20 World Cup 2024. It's been a long time since India lifted the trophy, with their last win coming under MS Dhoni in the very first edition back in 2007. But Ganguly seems confident in the current squad, believing they have a strong shot at ending this long wait and bringing the World Cup back home.
"India have very good chances in the World Cup. India will have to play like a T20 team. There is enormous talent," he said.
"Play without fear and just keep hitting. There is enormous talent, (this is) a team which has (Virat) Kohli, Rohit (Sharma), Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), (Rishabh) Pant, (Shivam) Dubey, (Hardik) Pandya, (Ravindra) Jadeja, Axar (Patel), (Jasprit) Bumrah, Sanju (Samson). That's why I say everyone is capable of winning it for India and the only way they will do it is (if they) just play with freedom. Play with that extra batsman and hit from the first ball, hit till you have to defend (and) play like the last ball," Ganguly concluded.
Meanwhile, Team India will take center stage at the newly built Nassau International Cricket Stadium in New York for all their group stage matches during the T20 World Cup. Their journey to reclaim the title begins on June 5 against Ireland.
India's T20 World Cup squad
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Reserve players: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan
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