Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam has revealed his formula to handle the pressure facing India ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 on Sunday, February 15. Babar will be one of the key players for Pakistan in their much-anticipated clash in Colombo as both teams aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the tournament.
Babar played a key role in Pakistan’s victory over India in the 2021 FIFA World Cup T20 as they won by 10 wickets on that occasion and talked about how the match was a high-intensity affair. The Pakistan star noted that expectations go to a whole other level during the clash.
“Look, as we discussed, the India-Pakistan match is always high intensity. The whole world is involved – all the fans, both countries – and like you said, it’s like the whole world is watching. Then it goes to another level and the expectations also rise to a whole different level,” Babar said in a video released by ESPNCricinfo.
The star batsman, who has faced India five times in T20Is, said it is always best to stay calm and relaxed ahead of India’s match against Pakistan and shut down outside, an advice he also gives to the younger players in the team.
“We’ve played quite a few matches like this and we’ve learned that the calmer and more relaxed you are and the less you listen to outside noise, the better. If you stay straight and focused it helps a lot.”
“From our experience, we also talk to youngsters and tell them that yes, there is excitement, but the more you stay calm and stress-free, the better it will be for you,” Babar said.
What is Babar’s record against India?
Babar managed just 105 runs in five T20Is against India at an average of 26.25 with a strike rate of 128.05. After his unbeaten 68 in the 2021 FIFA T20 World Cup, the Pakistan captain struggled to make an impact, posting scores of 10, 14, 0 and 13 in the subsequent encounters with India.
His last two outings – during the T20 World Cup in 2022 and 2024 – have produced modest returns that have put him firmly in the limelight for Sunday’s high-stakes showdown in Colombo. Babar found some form during the clash against USA, score 46 runs off 32 balls.
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Published on:
February 14, 2026