'Pakistan are strong, you have to play your best cricket against them' - Virat Kohli ahead of iconic battle

The much-awaited India and Pakistan match will take place on Sunday (October 24) at the Dubai International Stadium. Although India have had an upper hand over Pakistan during several seasons of the 20-20 World Cup, winning all their five contests, skipper Virat Kohli is not taking Pakistan lightly and feels they are quite a dangerous side and have sufficient match winners.

Pakistan have the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who have been in good form recently. Kohli said that his team have to bring in their A-game against the Azam-led side.

"Pakistan are strong, you have to play your best cricket against them every time. They have players who are game-changers. We definitely have to bring our A-game against Pakistan," Kohli said in the pre-match virtual press conference.

India have form and momentum with them as they managed to beat England and Australia in the warm-up games. The only concern for the management would be the fitness of all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The 28-year-old has not returned to bowling as of yet but Kohli said he is getting better and would be fit in time to bowl his quota of overs during the Super 12 stage.

"I feel Hardik presently is getting better in terms of being prepared to bowl two overs for us. Till the time he starts bowling, we have created a few options for ourselves. What he offers at number 6 as a batter, we can't create something like that overnight," said the Indian captain.

It remains to be seen if Pandya bowls during the game against Pakistan or purely play as a batter at number six or seven. It will be interesting to see if he finds a place in the XI at all.