Asia Cup 2018: The hype of playing against Pakistan doesn’t really matter for India, says Ashwin

R Ashwin doesn't think the Champions Trophy final loss will be a baggage on Team India.

India will face Pakistan on September 19 in the Asia Cup | Getty Images

India and Pakistan are all set for a blockbuster encounter on Wednesday (September 19) in the ongoing Asia Cup 2018 and it will be a great opportunity for Men in Blue to take a revenge of the Champions Trophy final last year with a win in Dubai.

Sarfraz Ahmed-led Pakistan team produced a clinical performance in the final and thrashed India to clinch the Champion Trophy in England. Since then, the Men in Green have been doing well in all forms, as well as, touted as the favorites to win the 2018 Asia Cup.

Undoubtedly, Pakistan must be keen to continue winning against India when they face each other in the ongoing Asia Cup, but Ravichandran Ashwin believes that it will be a close match in Dubai. He further said that Indian Team are a very strong unit as compared to other teams around the world.

The off-spinner also denied that India’s defeat in the Champions Trophy final will be a baggage on any player, but it will only push them to dish out their best against Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

Ashwin told India Today on Monday (September 17), “I do believe, man-to-man we are a very strong unit compared to most teams around the world. I don’t think the Champions Trophy final loss will be a baggage on any player. If anything it will only spur them on to dish out their best in the Asia Cup.”

Whenever India and Pakistan meet up on the field, it creates a lot of hype, but he believes that India will not pay much attention to it and take it as the only other game in the tournament.

Ashwin signed off by saying, “Having been with this Indian team for quite some time now, the hype of playing against Pakistan doesn’t really matter.”

 

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 18 Sep, 2018

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