Axar Patel said that neither the magnitude of the occasion nor the rivalry against Pakistan fazed the Indian team. Their focus, he revealed, was firmly on planning and execution.

"There's India's batting versus Pakistan bowling or whatever - we were not thinking about that. We were just thinking about our plan and our execution when we are batting or bowling. We were just thinking about what we have to do if we are bowling first or bowling second? How was the wicket? So we were thinking about our game.

“We are not thinking about these rivalries or whatever. So we are playing against one team, and we are just focusing on cricket. So whenever I am playing, I am not thinking about others. I treat it as a one-on-one match against an opponent. So I'm not thinking about any rivalry or whatever.”

There was massive support for India, with the 28,000-capacity Premadasa filled 90 percent with Indian fans. Yet the all-rounder felt that support in Sri Lanka was no different from what the Indian team experiences anywhere else in the world.

"No, not only Sri Lanka - even in Australia or England, or last time, when we were playing in the West Indies, it was the same. Most of the Indian supporters come to support us in the blue jersey. We never think about which country we are playing in. We just think about the wicket on the ground and what is there.

"And yes, people who want to come support us. It feels good. And it is not like that only in Sri Lanka, but when we go to any other country many people come to support us. It is same like this everywhere."

Axar finished with figures of two for 29, providing timely breakthroughs by claiming the wickets of Babar Azam (clean bowled for five) and Usman Khan (44). The latter's stumping effectively sealed Pakistan's fate, as he was aggressively charging down the pitch. Axar deceived him with a short delivery that spun sharply.

"The odd ball was skidding and deliveries were spinning more. When I was bowling with the new ball, I realized that the new ball was skidding a little more. So the plan was [according to] what the batter wants to do, which area he wants to target. After that I changed my line or length. And the second dismissal was that he (Usman) was stepping out. So I again went for my length."

Axar also praised Ishan Kishan for his splendid knock."The way he batted, I think it was one of the great knocks, because it was not so easy. The ball was spinning, some were going straight under lights, so it was not easy. He has carried the form from domestic cricket to the New Zealand series and then in the last match (against Namibia) also he scored 50. So when your confidence is high you don't think much about yourself or the wicket.

"Obviously there is confidence and also a lot of skills. He has not hit all his shots in one place, he has played shots all over, over the cover, slips. He used the field well. Credit goes to him."