World Cup 2015: Pressure on India in opener against Pak, says V. Raju

India may have never lost to Pakistan in a World Cup but former spinner feels that being the defending champions the pressure will be on them when they faces off against the arch-rivals

New Delhi: India may have never lost to Pakistan in a World Cup but former spinner Venkatapathy Raju feels that being the defending champions the pressure will be on the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team when it faces off against the arch-rivals in their opening game in Adelaide.


Venkatapathy Raju 

"India have done better in the recent past as compared to Pakistan but being the defending champions and the fact that they have not lost a game against their arch-rivals in the ICC World Cup, I believe the pressure will be on us.

'Nothing to lose'
"Pakistan have nothing to lose, we have everything to gain," Raju, who is a development officer in the Asian Cricket Council, told PTI.

Raju, who was part of the 1992 Indian side when Australia and New Zealand hosted the first coloured World Cup, said that the Men in Blue should kick-start their defence on a winning note on February 15.

"People are so used to seeing India win against Pakistan in a World Cup that the pressure automatically builds on us.

"But if you have to be a champion team then you have to come good in any situation and start on a winning note to take the momentum forward," he said.

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