Star Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar says India's cricketing rivalry with Australia is now bigger than that with arch-enemy Pakistan, the latter a rivalry so intense that fans have reportedly taken their own lives over it.
Speaking in Mumbai ahead of the Australian team's visit to India next month, Tendulkar reflected on the last volatile match-up of the two sides - in Australia last summer - when allegations of racism and bad sportsmanship rocked the series.
Because of recent history, India now held its rivalry with Australia higher than its battles with Pakistan, Tendulkar said.
"I think it [India v Australia] has become bigger largely because of the competitiveness. All the series, from 2001 onwards, have been keenly fought and have been very close ones," he said.
"We have gone to Australia and beaten them. We have been able to surprise them and that's what the Australian public likes: competition and high standards of play.
"They love to see challenges and competitiveness."
However, Tendulkar was confident the racism row that marred India's last tour would not cast a shadow over next month's series.
"I don't think there is any friction between us," he said.
Cricket matches between India and Pakistan have been shadowed by the history of the neighbouring nations, who have been to war four times in the last 50 years.
In 2005, the Asia Times wrote: "After India lost the Kolkata match against Pakistan on November 13, a cricket fan, Rabindranath Adhikari, committed suicide, setting himself on fire at his house in Batikar village of Birbhum district in West Bengal. Such fits of insanity are not rare."
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