[caption id="attachment_8263" align="alignnone" width="580"]Ashwin---gallerily Ravichandran Ashwin feel Indo-Pak match more of a border rivalry.[/caption] Kolkata: Ace Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feel a cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is much bigger than the Ashes. According to Ashwin, “As far the Indians and Pakistanis go, I don't think they watch this game as a game of cricket. It's more of a border rivalry. They want to get one up on each other. There's much more rather than this game taking a center stage. As far as people are concerned they put their emotions into the game. For the players, it's all about keeping their emotions aside and trying to play the best way we can.” India will feel the pressure as they are in a must win situation against their arch rivals. Whether there will be more pressure on them , Ashwin feel, “We are used to playing a lot of India-Pakistan game. Every game that India plays is a pressure game. We are pretty much used to it. We should be able to handle it. More than who we're playing, it's a World Twenty20. We have almost put ourselves in a position that we have to win our remaining games. That's more pertinent.” On being asked about the team’s shock defeat at the hands of New Zealand , Ashwin feel “We will first have to win... It's as simple as that. The net run-rate will fall in place. We will think about it when it makes sense. Now we are  not concerned about NRR. Pakistan will have a slight edge due to the fact they have been training at this venue since their arrival here in Kolkata on March 12. Afridi and his team will be high on confidence following their comprehensive 55 win against Bangladesh . According to Ashwin, “I don’t think anybody has an edge. We start 50-50. They're upbeat after beating Bangladesh but if we can raise our standard and play to our potential, we can try and win the game as well.” On being asked whether this will be the biggest challenge to be playing in a tournament like this, Ashwin commented, “In 2014, we were playing on the same ground in Mirpur. It's about understanding the game, the ground and wicket and all that... Whichever team gets used to it may have an edge. It's pretty much similar we've moved from Nagpur to Kolkata. It's about revisiting our strategy and discussing your game plan.” Talking about the mental approach, “They're probably a little more  hard working than us. It was more about relaxing and nothing to do with whom we're playing. We've been on the road for last three months. The best thing we can do is to think of ourselves rather than sitting together and practicing. Generally after a game like that you tend to go to nervous practice and try harder and eventually go into the match day a little more tired. That's the idea behind it.” “It's the same approach. We have managed to keep the pressure of and people away from the game. That's been one success point for us. Leading up the World Cup, maintaining momentum is very important. We will have to pick it up from Eden Gardens,” commented Ashwin.        

Indo-Pak Match more of a Border Rivalry: Ashwin