'Pakistan is good team but focus remains only on our performance' - Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of much hyped IND-PAK clash

Team India have already started preparing for the T20 World Cup, which starts on October 16, after finishing the T20 International matches against South Africa. The Men in Blue played a warm-up game against Western Australia and will play one more game against them, followed by two official warmup fixtures, one each against Australia and New Zealand, before opening their campaign on October 23 against Pakistan in Melbourne.

Team India faced Pakistan in their opening fixture in the last competition as well, which resulted in a heartbreaking 10-wicket loss for the Men in Blue. Although Pakistan boasts of an equally outstanding line-up, the Indian fans are expecting a change in fate with a new captain and a new coach in place.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who will participate in his maiden T20 World Cup season, addressed the rivalry and noted that having already faced Pakistan, he won't feel much pressure.

“When you've already played against a particular opponent, you don't worry much when you face them again. However, there is lot of hype generated by media and internet ahead of the clash against Pakistan. But for us cricketers this is just like another match and if we think too much pressure certainly builds,” Chahal told Dainik Jagran.

He also praised Pakistan as a strong squad but added that India's primary emphasis is on its performance.

“I'm quite active on internet but I don't allow myself to get bothered on what is being written out there. Pakistan is a good team but the focus solely remains on our performance. The most important thing is how you perform on the match day, everything depends on that,” he added.

Team India's total in the match against Pakistan last year was 151/7 after 20 overs. With the exception of Virat Kohli, the Pakistani pace attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, destroyed the top-orderorder lineup. In reply, openers Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan successfully chased the target with 13 deliveries to spare. Since then, India and Pakistan have faced off twice, with each team earning a victory.