Asia Cup | India will go with 'positive and strong' mindset against Pakistan, promises Shikhar Dhawan

India will play its second game in the ongoing Asia Cup against Pakistan today after ending up as the winning side against Hong Kong yesterday. The Indian cricketers were forced to play two back-to-back games without getting a day off and Dhawan admitted that the Indian players are tired and the ideal situation should have been getting rest for at least a day before the big game against Pakistan.

"We didn't expect that they were going to score a 174-run partnership. But they played well and, of course, we could have been more consistent in our bowling but we have to give credit to their batsmen. Both the opening batsmen played really well. The way they played their shots and the way they were calculative about scoring runs, it was good. I have to appreciate their good batting as well," the Indian opener expressed.

"There wasn't much of a swing or seam on the wicket. Not that we didn't know much about Hong Kong, of course, we watch videos where the player's batting or bowling. Some of our bowlers were playing after a long time. Like Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) coming after a break, Shardul (Thakur) was in England but he didn't play a match for two months. So it takes time to get into the rhythm as well. And at the same time, Khaleel bowled really well. Of course we couldn't get the wicket at the start but later on the way, we came back in the game and the way our fast bowlers or spinners as well, they both took wickets, that was good," stated Dhawan.

"We knew that once we get the top-order wickets, we can come back in the game. Obviously, they gave a decent fight and it is always good to learn from every match."