(AFP Photo)
Suresh Raina is optimistic about Team India’s prospects in the highly anticipated showdown against Pakistan at the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. The two rivals are set to clash in a league match on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, with both teams placed in Group A.
Raina, who was part of the Indian team that clinched victory over Pakistan in the final of the inaugural World T20 in 2007, carries valuable insight into such high-stakes encounters.
In discussions about the eagerly awaited match, Raina expressed his confidence in Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, emphasizing his leadership abilities and strategic acumen.
Raina believes that the Indian team will wholeheartedly commit themselves to securing victory in this monumental clash.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of the team’s all-rounders, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, urging them to rise to the occasion on the grand stage.
“Our team looks very good. They are going to play against Pakistan in New York. Rohit led the team really, really well. He has been amazing with his planning and he is getting a lot of respect from the dressing room. We have a lot of options. We have two all-rounders,” Raina said during an event.
Raina elaborated on the excitement and significance surrounding a face-off between India and Pakistan, recalling the intensity of the 2007 T20 World Cup final.
“We played a lot of matches, Yuvraj Singh, RP, Rahul, against Pakistan. When you are representing your country, you try to give your best. I am looking forward to playing against Pakistan in England. We have retired from the sport, but not from the heart. When you see the tricolour, you feel jee jaan lagaa denge lekin inse nahi haarenge (We will do anything and everything but not lose to them),” he said.
India boasts an impressive track record against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, having clashed seven times in the tournament’s history. Of these encounters, India has emerged victorious in six, while Pakistan claimed a single win during the 2021 edition. Their most recent showdown took place in 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Virat Kohli’s remarkable performance led India to a thrilling triumph.
