The former Indian cricket team head coach, Ravi Shastri, said that Team India has a small advantage in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 game against Pakistan in Pallekele. But he also admitted that Pakistan has gotten a lot better and closed the gap to the Indian team.
When talking about the intense India vs Pakistan matches, Shastri highlighted that it’s not just about how well the players are performing but also about their mental toughness.
He emphasized that handling the hidden pressures and keeping a focused mindset are crucial factors that can make a significant difference in these high-pressure games.
According to Shastri, success in such high-stakes encounters depends on maintaining composure and clear thinking under pressure.
Shastri believes that India begins as the favorites in this match huge match between the Indian cricket team and the Pakistan cricket team. He believes that this is India’s strongest team since 2011, praising the mix of players. Shastri also highlighted the strength and experience of the Indian lineup, with captain Rohit Sharma’s deep understanding of the game being a significant advantage.
However, Shastri was quick to acknowledge Pakistan’s progress. He mentioned that seven to eight years ago, there was a noticeable gap in the strength of both teams player by player. But now, Pakistan has closed that gap significantly, becoming a formidable side. Shastri emphasized the need for India to be at their best to compete with Pakistan.
“Seven to eight years back, if you compared the strengths of both teams player by player, there was a noticeable difference. However, Pakistan has improved and become a strong team. So, you need to be in your best form,” commented Ravi Shastri.
India’s first match in the Asia Cup 2023 is against Pakistan to be played on the September 2nd, starting at 3 PM IST. So far 2 matches have been played in the Asia Cup 2023. In the opening match, Pakistan comfortably beat Nepal while Sri Lanka also registered a comfortable 5 wickets victory over Bangladesh in the 2nd match of the tournament.
