T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit, Kohli, Hardik open up on playing against Pakistan

The greatest rivalry in cricket is set to take place as India takes on Pakistan in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on June 9 at the Nassau County Stadium in New York. Tensions are running high ahead of this marquee clash, with Indian stars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya weighing in on the heated contest.

India enjoys a commanding 6-1 record over Pakistan in T20 World Cup meetings. However, this historic rivalry always brings an extra level of pressure and excitement. The high pressure of the marquee clash and the talks all around make it so interesting

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged the challenging nature of facing Pakistan. The 37-year-old believes that the team needs to take this as yet another game and doesn't need to get carried away with all the external noise. 

"Even If we're not playing against them, we still prepare against them. For players this is (just) another game. We can't think that this is a very big match. Of course every World Cup is a big match... we can't treat this like something different. We just have to treat this as another game that we are playing and we have to win it," Rohit stated in a talk with Star Sports.

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Game only knows the basics, and you reap the rewards of hard work: Virat Kohli

For star batter Virat Kohli, the marquee clash is also just like another cricket game, and he believes the team that plays well and follows the basics reaps the rewards of hard work

"For me, it's as simple as knowing the game does not know which team is playing in the park. It's different countries, we have different jerseys, but the game only knows the basics, and you reap the rewards of hard work. It's the environment within the stadiums that elevates your performance differently, and that happens to be the case when we play Pakistan," Kohli said.

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All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has enjoyed success against the Babar Azam-led side. He believes the right routine and calls that he made have made him successful against the Men in Green and is determined to follow the same process. 

"Pakistan has been one team where I've been very fortunate to do well in a lot of games. All those times I was able to do well were not because I was overly excited. It was the fact that I was excited enough but, at the same point in time,  I took the right calls on what is required, and I think in that process I have been able to be quiet consistent and hope to continue that," Pandya said.

While India is the favored side based on past results, Pakistan cannot be taken lightly, especially in a rivalry of this magnitude. India won their opening fixture against Ireland and are riding high on confidence, while Pakistan lost their first game against co-host USA.