World Cup is always the big stage. In non-World Cup matches, if you lose to Pakistan, people tend to forget a bit but not in World Cup. In this edition, the Indo-Pak match is the first for both the teams. It can straightaway set the tone for the rest of the tournament. India have the upper-hand in that regard with five out of five wins. Pakistan have been in the driving seat at some stage or the other in those matches. India-Pakistan matches always bring the best out of the players. You cannot afford to lose to each other in a World Cup.
On Sunday, there will be a lot of nervous moments. Pakistan have nothing to lose. For India, the pressure of not losing to them so far will always be there. You have to hold your nerves. You cannot relax by saying ‘we have always been winning against them in World Cup’. Psychologically, it will play but Pakistan is very unpredictable.
All said and done, World Cup is a different ballgame. You have to choose your combination right. You have to go with five bowlers and the part-timers who can take a wicket or two is a bonus. You cannot depend on them every match. Our batting is the main strength. You have to consistently score 275 or 300. And, how quickly you can adjust to the conditions in both the countries is crucial.
Talking about past matches, in 1992, we did not have a very good Australian tour. We had just played a five-Test series besides a lot of practice games. We also played in a triangular series. But for the game against Pakistan, it was not a great tournament for us. As records speak, we have never lost to Pakistan in this global event. But the intensity has always been always there. Both the teams cannot afford to lose. There is pressure on both of them, expectations from the spectators, from both the countries, are very high. Even though they sit together and wave flags, ultimately it is THE match of the tournament. The aggression level is totally different when you play against Pakistan. We might be good friends off the field, but on the field, we play with full aggression. That always makes it special.
In 1992, we got good breakthroughs from Kapil paaji, Manoj (Prabhakar) and even (Javagal) Srinath (all three took two wickets apiece) and the run out of Imran Khan off my bowling made the difference. Wasim Akram could hit the ball. I had Wasim stumped. In 1996, Rashid Latif started to hit. The game was slipping away from us. We both were together from the under-19 days. He was trying to go after me. He said that he will hit me for a lot of sixes. I said, ‘how much ever you hit, at the most you can hit me for 36 runs (in an over). That was a very good stumping by (Nayan) Mongia off my bowling. That changed the complexion of the game. Both (Akram in 1992 and Latif in 1996) came at crucial junctures of the match.
In that 1996 match, Aamir Sohail got carried away. He was really hitting. The game was in their hands. He was captaining and the pressure got into him. One wicket and they were tense. Both the games were very intense. The game was swinging both sides.
On the field, holding nerves is very important. How much ever you try to hold yourself, it (emotion) comes out. That’s the speciality of these games. We all were so tense, there’s not much that we can think about. Ajay Jadeja was standing at silly point when Miandad was playing his last World Cup. He was telling, ‘it is time he got in (the pavilion) as he is not the same old self. After the game, Jadeja went and told him that whatever happened was in the game and Miandad said, ‘that is the way you should play the game. You should be under others’ skin all the time’. Celebrations were so much, once you win the game, you tend to forget what happened on the field.
The best part of these Indo-Pak ties is that there is something or the other all the time. Either you try to be too aggressive or too subdued. The dressing room atmosphere is tense. Till the last moment, you never know what will happen. The intensity is so much, you can’t afford to relax anytime.
—Venkatapathi Raju played in 1992 and 1996 World Cups. He spoke with G Krishnan
For full interview, visit dnai.in/czGh
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