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Ahead of India-Pakistan clash, Gavaskar reveals which team is under pressure
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign with a blockbuster clash against Pakistan on Saturday
Pakistan captain Babar Azam (left) with Indian captain Rohit Sharma before the start of their Asia Cup match last year in Dubai. — AFP
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday acknowledged that the "pressure of expectations" will be high on India in Asia Cup and the World Cup, hoping that there would be no bad days in the knockouts.
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign with a blockbuster clash against Pakistan on Saturday in Pallekele, with the two arch rivals also likely to meet at later stages in the competition.
"I don't think there's any other cricket team in the world which is under as much pressure of expectations than the Indian team," Gavaskar said.
"Because every match that the team plays, the fans, the followers — not just in India, but across the world — expect and want India to win," he said.
"In sport, we all know that sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. The pressure can be telling and I think that's the kind of pressure the Indian team is currently experiencing with everyone wanting them to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup — which will be held in a month and a bit," Gavaskar said.
The former India captain said fans will have to be more "understanding" of the pressure situations that the team finds itself in.
"This is where, we, as cricket followers, need to show a bit more understanding," he said.
"There will be days when the team will not be able to play up to its potential and let us keep our fingers crossed that if these days come, they happen at the league stage and not at the knockout stage," Gavaskar added.
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