We'll be focused on 120 balls with the bat, and 120 balls when we bowl - Ryan ten Doeschate

Since the T20 World Cup in 2024, India have been far superior to Pakistan across departments. They've won 85.7% of their games compared to Pakistan's 50%, with a batting average of 29.4 against 19.9 and a strike rate of 156.5 to 129.3. India have also piled up eight 200-plus totals in this period compared to Pakistan's five, while their bowlers lead the field with the best average (16.4) and strike rate (13.3) in the world.

No wonder India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate reckoned they would start as favourites in their Asia Cup fixture against Pakistan, though he was quick to stress the team was under no "illusion." Execution, he reminded, would decide the contest.

"Obviously, cricket at this level is about how you execute on the day. But yeah, I've been totally honest, and looking at the recent form and how the teams have played, I would say India do start favourites tomorrow," ten Doeschate said. "We'll be focused on the 120 balls with the bat, and 120 balls when we bowl, and the team that is more consistent over those 120 balls will be better.

"So we have no illusion as to the task ahead, and a big part of what we're trying to do and looking forward to is to stay grounded and just focus on getting better. The individual is getting better every day, so form counts are very important when you come to competitions, regional competitions like this."

Ten Doeschate also underlined that India had not done anything out of the ordinary for this clash. There had been no "special preparation for the Pakistan game," he said, and the emphasis all week had been on controlling the controllables, something coach Gautam Gambhir has stressed upon in the team meeting in the lead-up to this match.

"I was expecting a lot more needle at the Champions Trophy game. I didn't really feel that either. Certainly, the preparation and focus this week haven't been any different to our preparation for any other important game.

"The waiting period of knowing whether this [tournament] was going to happen was the most frustrating part," he said. "Once we knew we were going to be here, and playing, we have tried to get on with the business of it. This game, particularly, we haven't prepared differently, like I said, but we are obviously aware of the sentiments and strong feelings.

"Gauti's message has been sort of very professional about not worrying about things that are not in our control and being emotionless when approaching the cricket side of things. The guys are professional enough, I am sure.

"Individuals have different levels of feeling on the spectrum of where they feel the whole situation is, but the messaging has been to focus on the cricket, and try to focus on the one game tomorrow."

The coach acknowledged that emotions were inevitable in a contest of this nature. It was, he said, "a very sensitive issue," one where the players understood the compassion and feeling of the Indian public. But he stressed that professionalism had to come first.

"It's a very sensitive issue and I've got no doubt the players share the compassion and feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public," he explained. "The Asia Cup was in limbo for a long period of time and we were just waiting. We didn't think we were going to be coming at one stage.

"You know what the Indian government's stance is and now the team and particularly the players, you have to put those sentiments and the emotions behind. That's something we addressed in the team meeting today. We're aware of people's feelings, at the same time we've got to go out, and the guys get a chance to play for their country, and they'll be as professional and focused as they can be given the circumstances."

He added that the team would be guided by the BCCI and government's direction on the matter. The focus, he repeated, was on "controlling those emotions" and preparing for every game in the same manner.

"Hopefully the way we play can represent how players feel about the country. I understand the position and, like I explained, the sentiment. We are following the direction of what the BCCI and Indian government have decided is right for the country at the moment.

"Again, it goes back to what we said about controlling those emotions, and we want to prepare for every single game in the same manner."