WATCH: Indian crowd lights up Pallekele with national anthem ahead of India-Pakistan clash in Asia Cup 2023; Ravichandran Ashwin reacts

The much-awaited clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 got underway on Saturday (September 2) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, and it began with an electrifying and emotional moment that transcended cricketing boundaries. Prior to the match, Indian fans in the stadium came together in a powerful display of unity and patriotism as they sang the Indian national anthem with unwavering passion alongside their national team.

It is worth mentioning that the fans had flocked to the stadium hours before the scheduled start time with their spirits high and their hopes soaring. But what truly set the atmosphere apart was the heartwarming rendition of the Indian national anthem by the crowd.

A video capturing this awe-inspiring moment has gone viral on the internet as Indian fans, draped in tricolour flags and jerseys, belted out the national anthem with sheer enthusiasm. The collective voice of the supporters echoed through the Pallekele stadium, evoking a profound sense of pride and unity among not only those present at the venue but also millions of Indians worldwide who were glued to their screens.

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Ravichandran Ashwin shares a beautiful video of fans singing Indian national anthem at Pallekele 

Indian cricket stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin joined in to share this powerful moment with fans. The off-spinner took to his official Twitter handle and termed the feeling of singing the national anthem before such a high-voltage encounter ‘surreal’.

“There is nothing like singing the national anthem before an #INDvsPAK contest. It’s a surreal feeling; the crowd is still building up at the venue, I guess,” wrote Ashwin.

Here’s the video:

There is nothing like singing the national anthem before an #INDvsPAK contest.

It’s a surreal feeling, crowd is still building up at the venue I guess. pic.twitter.com/hr6kNlyLFO

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 2, 2023

As far as the match is concerned, India won the toss and elected to bat first in the contest. However, the rain briefly interrupted the proceedings, causing a delay in play. Nevertheless, the excitement remained palpable, and the play was eventually resumed with India at 15 without loss in 4.2 overs.

While Pakistan have stuck to their winning combination from the previous match against India and kept their playing XI unchanged, the Indian team opted to drop Mohammed Shami from the lineup in a surprising move, keeping fans and cricket pundits intrigued about their strategy.

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma interact with Haris Rauf, Babar Azam and other Pakistan players ahead of clash in Asia Cup 2023