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Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh recalled his first-ever India versus Pakistan match during the 2003 50-over World Cup, calling it "one of the greatest ODI games he has played" which made him understood what this rivalry meant.
India will play their second ICC Champions Trophy match against arch-rivals Pakistan at Dubai on Sunday. While India has a superior record in 50-over and 20-over World Cups, Pakistan enjoys a 3-2 advantage over India in the Champions Trophy, having inflicted on them a massive 180-run loss in the final of the 2017 CT. India would be aiming to avenge this loss and throw a struggling Pakistan out of the tournament once and for all after they lost to New Zealand in the tournament opener. Speaking on JioStar's 'Greatest Rivalry Returns' programme, Yuvraj said about both team's clash in the 2003 WC, "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." During the match, Pakistan elected to bat first and posted 273/7 on the board, thanks to a brilliant century from Saeed Anwar (101). In the run-chase, half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (98) and Yuvraj (50*) guided India to a six-wicket win. Speaking about the upcoming fixture between both sides, Yuvraj said that irrespective of the format, the match feels like a title clash itself. "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: 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 and Mohammed Siraj. (ANI)
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