India were humbled by New Zealand in the opening game of the ICC World T20 2016 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur Tuesday.
In 2007 ICC World T20, when India lost to New Zealand in the Super 8, they went on to win the tournament. Also in 2011, India's only defeat was in Nagpur and they went on to the win the ICC World Cup.
People are believing in their favourite side and feel they can win it from here as well.
Being the hosts and the No 1 T20 side in the world, MS Dhoni & Co will have to bounce back at any cost in their next game.
That game is against arch-rivals Pakistan — an encounter the entire world waits for, a game for which the roads go empty in all the cities across India and Pakistan, a clash of the titans, a game of ego and finally a must-win match for India.
When India played Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2015, an advertisement released by Star Sports — 'The Mauka Mauka' ad — had caught the fancy of many viewers.
The advertisement is back as India prepare to face Pakistan in their next match of the ICC World T20 2016.
This time the guy in the advertisement is seen requesting Shahid Afridi to fulfil his dream so he can finally set off those crackers he has kept for years but could not use because India have always defeated Pakistan in the World Cups.
When it comes to playing against Pakistan, and that too in a World Cup encounter, Team India reach a whole new level of brilliance. That has been the case throughout World Cup history. Pakistan have never been able to defeat India in any of the World Cups, be it T20s or the 50-over ones.
Prior to this game, which will be played Saturday at the iconic Eden Gardens, India and Pakistan have squared off four times in the ICC World T20 tournaments. India have humbled their opponents each time.
One among a couple of jinxes will definitely be broken after the upcoming much-anticipated encounter. First, India have never lost to Pakistan in the World Cup. Second, India have never won against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens. It will be really interesting to see which one will be broken after this high-voltage encounter.
Watch the new 'Mauka Mauka' ad here:
