The fierce cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan consistently generates an electrifying atmosphere, a reality well understood by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. Having taken part in numerous such encounters, he acknowledges that the build-up to these games is 鈥渦nmatched.鈥
Sharma reminisced about the T20 World Cup 2024 clash, where he likened the pre-game excitement to a festival. The match itself was a testament to this intensity, a tense, low-scoring affair where India narrowly triumphed by six runs. The key to India鈥檚 victory was a stellar bowling performance by Jasprit Bumrah, who earned the Player of the Match title for his impressive figures of 3-14.
鈥淏efore the India vs Pakistan match, we were informed about a threat 鈥 something was going on. So, two days before the game, we weren鈥檛 allowed to leave the hotel. The atmosphere started building from there. We were ordering food in, and the hotel was so crowded you could barely move. Fans, media 鈥 everyone was there. That鈥檚 when you realise this isn鈥檛 just another match 鈥 something special is about to happen.鈥
鈥淎s soon as we got near the stadium, it already felt like a celebration 鈥 Indian fans, Pakistani fans, all dancing and enjoying themselves. I鈥檝e played so many India鈥揚akistan games now 鈥 I鈥檝e lost count 鈥 but that pre-match energy, that feeling鈥 It鈥檚 always something else. Nothing compares to it,鈥 Rohit shared on JioHotstar鈥檚 special 鈥楥hampions Waali Feeling Phir Se鈥.
In the match, India faced early setbacks with Virat Kohli (4), Rohit (13), and Axar Patel (20) losing their wickets, but Rishabh Pant played a crucial knock of 42 off 31 balls, including six fours, lifting the side to a respectable total of 119 as no other middle-order batter managed to reach double figures.
Praising Pant鈥檚 efforts, Rohit said the wicketkeeper-batter played up to his potential and kept the team alive on the challenging surface.
鈥淲e just wanted Rishabh to be Rishabh 鈥 do all the things he does best, unsettle the bowlers, play freely. And he did that perfectly. His innings was around 42, and on that pitch, that鈥檚 as good as scoring 70. It was a very challenging surface 鈥 something was always happening.
鈥淭he par score there was probably 130 or 140. We ended up with 119. Our plan wasn鈥檛 to go for 200 鈥 we were aiming for 140. But of course, we lost wickets along the way. And that鈥檚 when Rishabh played that crucial knock of 40-plus, which really held things together. Eventually, we got 119 鈥 and I actually felt it could still be a good score. Maybe 10鈥15 runs short, but I knew that if we got 2鈥3 early wickets with the new ball, that 119 would start to feel like 160,鈥 Rohit said.
The opening batter went on to commend the pace duo of Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh for successfully defending the total and highlighted their significance in the shortest format of the game.
鈥淲ith Bumrah, you鈥檝e got to be proactive in how you use him. He鈥檚 a wicket-taker, and at the same time, he鈥檚 not going to leak runs. So, how do you balance that, especially when the opposition is chasing at a run-a-ball? Arshdeep has been phenomenal too. Over the last two years, there鈥檚 a reason he鈥檚 become India鈥檚 highest wicket-taker in T20Is 鈥 he鈥檚 a really smart bowler.鈥
鈥淪o, with both of them, my focus was on how to use their remaining overs strategically. You think about which batters are coming in, how they would handle Arshdeep and Bumrah? On that pitch, it was tough for new batters to settle, so our goal was to force new guys to the crease. That was the plan,鈥 Rohit concluded.
With IANS Inputs.