Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com looks on the lighter side of things surrounding the rivalry between India and Pakistan ahead of their World Cup clash in Adelaide.
It is one of the long-standing rivalries in modern cricket.
It is not just about the players involved, but also the two sets of supporters.
And no one likes being on the losing side.
India versus Pakistan is not just a cricket match. It's a contest of epic proportions, a battle so to speak.
The latest installment of the rivalry takes places on Sunday, February 15.
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While, Pakistan enjoy the overall edge over their arch-rivals, having won 72 (and lost 50) of the 126 ODIs between the sides, the World Cup presents a completely different picture.
Since their first meeting Down Under in the 1992 edition, Pakistan have lost to India in all the five outings. That includes demoralizing results in 1996, 1999 and 2003. And the one that probably hurt the most was the 2011 semi-final in Mohali.
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However, considering the indifferent form that Team India has been in recent times, many in Pakistan are of the opinion that this is their best chance to break the jinx.
"If I look at the World Cup history I think this time we have our best chance to avenge our defeats. This Indian team is not what it used to be and our players will try their best to defeat them this time," Pakistan's chief selector Moin Khan was quoted as saying.
Many former cricketers concur. Will this be Pakistan's best shot at getting back at their arch rivals?
Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com looks on the lighter side of things surrounding the rivalry.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
