There is only a few days left for the ICC Champions Trophy to start on 2025. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri spoke openly on the rivalry between India and Pakistan on Wednesday and also reacted to the comment of the Indian team coach Gautam Gambhir about the Pakistan match. Gambhir recently said that the importance of the group stage of the Champions Trophy against Pakistan is like every other match. Gambhir had said that all the matches of the Champions Trophy are of equal importance. Now talking to host Sanjana Ganesan in the recent edition of ICC Review, Shastri said that when he was the head coach, he had said a similar thing, but there is more in this match.
Shastri’s response to Gambhir’s statement
Reacting to Gambhir’s statement, Shastri said in the ICC review, ‘I was a coach for seven years. Whenever I was asked, I said the same as serious. But I assure you, the more you actually think, this match is much more than that. The statement given by Gambhir is only for the media. You have to say this. But in the depth of the mind, you want to win the match against Pakistan. Because if you do not do this, then you will be reminded of it till playing a match against Pakistan next time.
‘People don’t care what you did in the past’
Shastri said, ‘People do not care what you have done in the past. They are not worried about the last 10 matches, whether you have won eight or you have won nine. But they will remind you of how important it was to have lost a match (Pakistan). People will continue to remind you until you play with them next time. Anyone who reminds can be a taxi driver, it can be a person walking on the road. He will say- what has happened to India? The same questions are asked from Pakistan. What happened to Pakistan? Therefore, it always goes on in your mind. Whether you like it or not, this match is completely different. completely different.’
India Pakistan match in Dubai on 23 February
India and Pakistan will be played in Dubai on 23 February in Group A of Champions Trophy. The last time both teams came face to face during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Pakistan then won a big win by 10 wickets. However, after that Team India has faced Pakistan in the ICC tournament thrice and all three have won. However, Shastri believes that throbac will not take much headspace for Indian players.
‘Team India will not mind with 2021 match’
He said, ‘No, this (2021 match) will not work in his mind as it was a T20 match. This is a 50 -over match. It is completely different. This is a long match that is suit India more because you may get upset in T20. If you have experience in 50 overs cricket and you have depth in batting and bowling departments and you know this format well, then it creates a huge difference. When you see India and Pakistan a man to man, India is a better team and is far more experienced.
