Axar Patel: India-Pakistan Rivalry Feels Extra Pressure, We Stay Calm
Axar Patel: India-Pakistan Rivalry Feels Extra Pressure, We Stay Calm
Axar Patel says the India-Pakistan rivalry brings extra pressure, but India stays calm and focused as they advance to the T20 World Cup Super Eight.
India trounced Pakistan by 61 runs at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday night, February 15, 2026, to reach the Super Eight stage of the ICC T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan blasted 77 off 40 balls to help India post 175 for seven, a total that proved more than enough on a challenging track.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Axar Patel acknowledged the extra pressure that accompanies India-Pakistan contests but insisted the players stay steady by focusing on cricket and treating each game as just another opponent. “Yes, there is pressure. People around you or your family or friends talk to you about it. So, yes, there is a little more pressure than a normal match,” he said. “As professional cricketers, we just focus on controlling our emotions. We don’t think too much about the rivalry or put extra pressure on ourselves because of it.”
Patel praised Kishan’s innings, noting the difficulty of the conditions as the ball spun and sometimes dipped under the lights. Kishan, who has carried the form from domestic cricket into the New Zealand series and this match, used the field well and produced a game-changing knock that set up India’s total and gave bowlers a defendable target.
India’s victory not only handed them a key win in the group stage but also reinforced the team’s depth, with Kishan’s explosive start and the bowling unit stepping up under pressure. The result keeps India on track for the knockout rounds and fuels confidence as they move forward in the tournament.
