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The Indian team is set to face their biggest cricketing rivals in Pakistan for the second time in the ongoing Asia Cup. The Men in Blue won the first game and could lock horns with Pakistan one more time. Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders star Robin Uthappa addressed this possibility and expressed that it would an incredible opportunity for the fans.
But Uthappa pointed out that the sole focus of Team India should be on winning the Asia Cup trophy one more time and gradually improving for the bigger picture which is the T20 World Cup in Australia in October. While speaking to News 18, Robin Uthappa talked about the fanfare surrounding any India-Pakistan match but addressed that the focus must always remain on winning the game and the tournament.
He said, “It’s good to have India-Pakistan game, just the kind of peg of these players playing against each other would be good to see, just what to watch the cricket strictly from a cricketing point to see them going up against each other will be great for cricket, great for viewers and will be great for the records also, we will really see where these players stand against each other…”
“So in that sense, I think it will be a great game to view… having said that I think the focus will not only be to perform well against Pakistan but also taking one game at a time and winning one game at a time and hopefully winning the Asia Cup,” Uthappa continued.
Robin Uthappa then talked about fellow Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik and addressed the possibility of him playing in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Uthappa expressed that Karthik is one of the best finishers in the country and hence his age wouldn’t be a yardstick for his selection.
He said, “If you take out the age factor equation then he is easily one of the tops, in 2-3 best finisher for the country today and who is still playing international cricket so and have done well and is doing well, he has done well in IPL so why shouldn’t you be he there.”
“I don’t think age should be a criteria if he if you are performing the way he is and much deservedly so he is a part of the squad and I think he should be in the playing 11 no matter what and for me Dinesh Karthik will fit into any 11 in Asia of and in the world, cup happening in Australia,” Uthappa added.