As the eagerly awaited clash between India and Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 approaches, former cricketer Ravi Shastri has declared India as the favorites to win the match. In the last five encounters across all formats, India has emerged victorious on three occasions, while Pakistan has won twice.
Ravi Shastri acknowledges that in recent years, Pakistan has closed the gap, but he believes they have not yet overtaken their Indian counterparts. Shastri, the former head coach of the Indian cricket team, asserts that the current Indian squad is the strongest since the one that triumphed in the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Former Indian coach also praises captain Rohit Sharma, suggesting that the Nagpur-born batsman possesses the capability to lead India to success in the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.
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“I would say India start as favorites. This is their strongest team since 2011, this mix of players. And a captain who is seasoned, who understands the terrain better than most. Having said that, Pakistan have narrowed the gap. Seven-eight years ago, there was a gap if you looked at the strength of both teams and man to man. But Pakistan have narrowed it down. They are a very good side, so you have to be on top of your game,” remarked Ravi Shastri.
Ravi Shastri emphasizes that a player’s recent form should not be taken into account before an India vs. Pakistan match. Instead, he believes mental strength is of utmost importance in high-pressure encounters like these, and the player who can stay calm and handle the pressure better will likely shine.
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“It is about who handles pressure better. And never go by form before an India-Pakistan game because the tough-minded, mentally strong guys might not have done much six months back, but come the India-Pakistan game, they will come (to the fore). They know the importance of that game; they know where it can catapult them if they do well. Their juices will be fired up,” Shastri explained.
