Virat Kohli recalls thrilling Melbourne showdown ahead of India-Pakistan World Cup match

NEW DELHI: Hardik Pandya, the Vice Captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed his eagerness for the highly anticipated match of the ODI World Cup 2023 between India and Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Speaking in an ICC video, Virat Kohli, former Indian captain, reminisced about the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Melbourne, emphasizing the electric atmosphere surrounding such contests.

"The lead-up to games like this is what makes it so special. The buzz in the hotel. The buzz in Melbourne in general and outside the stadium was amazing, and the moment I stepped onto the field, I felt that energy in the stadium," Kohli said in the video.
Hardik Pandya, who is 30 years old, expressed his excitement for the upcoming match, foreseeing an exhilarating experience on the 14th of the month.

"Definitely on the 14th of this month, it will top that, you know. 110,000 people cheering. I can't wait, it's going to be a very exciting time," added Hardik Pandya.
Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian team, acknowledged the significance of experiencing the environment of this highly anticipated match, emphasizing that he has been privileged to be part of several India-Pakistan matches throughout his cricket career.

"It is going to be great to just experience that environment, experience the atmosphere that is going to be there at an India-Pakistan game in India, in Ahmedabad. The game is probably one of the most incredible environments that I have been privileged to be a part of," said Rahul Dravid.
India enters this contest after securing victories against Australia and Afghanistan in their first two matches of the tournament, bolstering their confidence. In their most recent encounter, India faced Pakistan in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023, where Rohit Sharma's team emerged victorious with a 228-run margin against Babar Azam's side.
After two games in the ODI World Cup, India currently holds the third position with four points and a net run rate of 1.500.
(With ANI inputs)