People praying in Prayagraj. | (Credits: X)
A special puja and aarti was performed in Prayagraj for Team India’s win ahead of their high-stakes clash against Pakistan on February 23, Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. In a video uploaded by news agency PTI, several people were seen joining the ceremony, with the 2017 Champions Trophy finalists set to lock horns.
Team India have started their Champions Trophy campaign tremendously well, ticking almost all of their boxes amid their six-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai. Mohammed Shami took a fifer to rediscover his rhythm, spinners stepped up, Rohit Sharma got their side off to a blazing start and Shubman Gill notched a match-winning ton. However, their fielding still needs improving as they let Bangladesh from 35/5 to 228.
Pakistan, meanwhile, are on the other side of the spectrum as their massive defeat to New Zealand have opened up a new set of wounds. Losing Fakhar Zaman is yet another dagger to their hopes of retaining their title and are heading for another possible defeat to their Indian counterparts on current form.
“It is not easy to bat on slow wickets” – Shubman Gill
At the pre-game press conference on Saturday, Team India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill feels the team that rotates the strike best on the slow surface on Dubai has the maximum chance of winning. He stated:
“In the last match, the dew didn’t come that much. So definitely, when the dew doesn’t come under lights, it is not easy to bat on slow wickets. It’s not easy to rotate the strike. I think, whatever matches we play here, the key will be that whichever team rotates well in the middle overs – between the 11th to the 40th over, has a better chance of winning.”
