Mumbai: India-Pakistan matches always generate hype and the two teams haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012, meeting only at ICC events.
“For us as cricketers, it is just another game. That feeling never changes. Yes there is an exciting atmosphere during India-Pak games. But for cricketers, it is just a game on the ground.
“You can ask cricketers from both sides, in our heads nothing really changes. Whether it is Pakistan, England or Australia, all games are same for us. You need to have passion but can’t afford to be too emotional,” he said.
Virat didn’t do well during the Test series against Australia and had an indifferent IPL by his standards but he doesn’t see it as a redemption series like he did during the 2014 Australia tour.
“For me, you improve as a cricketer after every series. The atmosphere around us is built in such a way like it becomes a life and death series.
“I never play for redemption, my motivation is to keep winning for country. I am willing to do whatever I can. In my head I don’t think of those things,” he said.
The champion batsmen felt the Champions Trophy was more competitve than the World Cup. “I think because the tournament is much shorter it’s competiveness is higher from the word go,” said the Indian captain.
