“In our time, the word in the Indian team was ‘lose even to Kenya but not to Pakistan’. There was pressure and expectations on the players,” Anil Kumble said.
Bangalore: India is set to play Pakistan in the Asian Cup and World Cup in the next two months, and legend Anil Kumble said on Tuesday that the key will be to treat it as just another game of cricket.
The former India captain has an outstanding record against Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs, having taken 81 wickets from 15 Tests, including capturing all 10 wickets in one innings (10/74) in 1999 at New Delhi.
In 34 ODIs against Pakistan, Kumble has taken 54 wickets.
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“In our time, the word was ‘losing even to Kenya but not to Pakistan.’ There was pressure and expectation on the players.
“This is how India vs Pakistan matches are played and the key is to treat it as just another match,” Kumble said here while speaking at the launch of Pitchside, the memoir written by veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur.
The function was also attended by former India batsman and current NCA boss VVS Laxman and former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani.
The 10-wicket haul against Pakistan remains a treasured moment for Kumble.
“I didn’t go onto the pitch thinking of a 10-wicket haul, although that’s every bowler’s dream.
“However, in the next Test Match against Pakistan, the Asian Test Championship in calcutta, He was struggling to take even a wicket. That is the cricket game for you,” she said.
Kumble had finished that match with figures of 1 for 139 when Pakistan defeated India by 46 runs at Eden Gardens in February 1999.
Mathur was the team manager for India during the 2004 tour to Pakistan.
He recalled the tight security given to the Indian team during that trip.
“Pakistan was willing to give us any amount of security. There were police vehicles in front of and behind our team bus, a helicopter on the team bus, Rapid Action Forces at all points on the main roads, and snipers on top of buildings on the way to the stadium, especially in Karachi.
“At one point even the players felt why we needed so much security, but overall the tour went well,” Mathur said.
First published in: 08-08-2023 22:48 IST
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