As India prepares to face arch-rivals Pakistan in their second ICC Champions Trophy match at Dubai on Sunday, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh reminisced about his first-ever India versus Pakistan match during the 2003 50-over World Cup. Yuvraj called it “one of the greatest ODI games he has played,” which helped him understand the intensity of the rivalry.
India boasts a superior record in 50-over and 20-over World Cups, while Pakistan holds a 3-2 advantage over India in the Champions Trophy. India aims to avenge their massive 180-run loss to Pakistan in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy and eliminate their struggling rivals from the tournament after Pakistan’s defeat to New Zealand in the opener.
Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Greatest Rivalry Returns’ programme, Yuvraj reflected on the iconic 2003 clash, saying, “It is one of the greatest ODI games I’ve played. My friend Shahid Afridi welcomed me with a lot of ‘kind words’ in that game. That was when I truly understood what the India-Pakistan rivalry meant. Watching it on TV was one thing, but playing in it was completely different. I remember the immense pressure, but performing well in that game gave me the confidence to become a better player in the future.”
In the 2003 World Cup match, Pakistan elected to bat first and posted a total of 273/7, thanks to a brilliant century from Saeed Anwar (101). During the run-chase, half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (98) and Yuvraj Singh (50*) guided India to a six-wicket win.
Commenting on the upcoming fixture, Yuvraj emphasized that the match feels like a title clash regardless of the format. “The pressure is immense. You do not want to lose because it sets the tone for the tournament. Winning builds momentum and confidence. I remember the last time I played in the Champions Trophy, we beat Pakistan in the first game, but they beat us in the final. So, nothing is guaranteed. But starting with a win on such a big stage, with the whole world watching, is crucial,” he concluded.
#### India’s Squad for the Match Against Pakistan:
– *Rohit Sharma (c)*
– *Shubman Gill*
– *Virat Kohli*
– *Shreyas Iyer*
– *KL Rahul*
– *Rishabh Pant*
– *Hardik Pandya*
– *Axar Patel*
– *Washington Sundar*
– *Kuldeep Yadav*
– *Harshit Rana*
– *Mohammed Shami*
– *Arshdeep Singh*
– *Ravindra Jadeja*
– *Varun Chakaravarthy*
#### Non-Travelling Reserves:
– *Yashasvi Jaiswal*
– *Shivam Dube*
– *Mohammed Siraj*
India’s upcoming match against Pakistan promises to be a high-stakes encounter, with both teams eager to make their mark in the tournament. The anticipation and excitement among fans are palpable as the two cricketing giants prepare to clash once again.
