India players focused on Pakistan clash, nothing else on mind: Batting coach

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has said that the team is only focused on the ground and not on outside noise ahead of their clash against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025. The two teams are set to lock horns on Sunday, September 14 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Ahead of the fixture, there have been discussions amongst fans around boycotting the high-voltage clash in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. However, Sitanshu Kotak has played down the outside knows reiterating the Indian government’s stance of playing against Pakistan only in multi-national sporting events.

"Once BCCI said they are aligned with government's decision, our focus was



always on the match. It's India versus Pakistan, and it will be an interesting game. India versus Pakistan is always a competitive game. Players are focused on the ground and nothing else is on their minds," Kotak told PTI.

There’s a possibility that India and Pakistan could lock horns as many as three times in the Asia Cup 2025. After their group stage fixture on September 14, they’re likely to face off again on September 21 in the Super 4 stages and can also take on each other in the final.

Ahead of the fixture, both India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Agha have said that both teams will be at their aggressive best in the upcoming match.