The veteran commentator added the team that will perform better under pressure has the chance of winning the blockbuster encounter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It is the mother of all battles. There\u2019s nothing bigger than this. I think it's the tension that holds everybody together. When 150 crore people expect a win from you, they will never swallow a defeat. There is a culture of retribution. This game is played more between the ears than between the hands - it's a psychological battle. There\u2019s plenty of nervous energy floating around, but the side that converts it into positive energy is the side that will win,\" Sidhu said on a special episode of JioHotstar\u2019s Greatest Rivalry Returns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also shared his thoughts on the blockbuster match and remembered his first experience of playing against Pakistan in 2003.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It\u2019s one of the greatest ODI games I\u2019ve played. My friend Shahid Afridi welcomed me with a lot of \u2018kind words\u2019 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,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi added on the incident and revealed what happened in that match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Yuvraj was young at the time, just finding his place in the team. We had the opportunity to play alongside legends like Inzamam-ul-Haq bhai and Wasim Akram bhai, who taught us how to fight on the ground, how to win matches, and how to unsettle the opposition,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Our seniors used to tell us, \u2018Show the opposition your eyes. Put pressure on them.\u2019 But Yuvraj is the son of a Sardar - he doesn\u2019t take pressure. He came in with confidence, and despite everything we said, he focused on his batting and handled it very well,\" the former all-rounder added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Adding on to the rivalry with India, Afridi termed it a \"golden opportunity\" for youngsters to shine in the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"For a cricketer, an India-Pakistan match is a golden opportunity, especially for youngsters. It was always my dream. Before a match, I couldn\u2019t sleep at night - I would think about my performance and how I couldn\u2019t afford to miss this chance. Even if I hadn\u2019t performed in the last five or six matches, if I did well in an India-Pakistan game, everything would be forgiven. That\u2019s how big this rivalry is,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yuvraj added, \"No matter the format, an India-Pakistan game always feels like a final- whether it\u2019s a group match, a semifinal, or the championship itself. The pressure is immense. You don\u2019t 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.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"For a cricketer, an India-Pakistan match is a golden opportunity, especially for youngsters. It was always my dream. Before a match, I couldn\u2019t sleep at night - I would think about my performance and how I couldn\u2019t afford to miss this chance. Even if I hadn\u2019t performed in the last five or six matches, if I did well in an India-Pakistan game, everything would be forgiven. That\u2019s how big this rivalry is,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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