NEW DELHI: Former India captain Rohit Sharma has looked back at some of the defining moments that shaped the legendary India-Pakistan T20 World Cup rivalry, naming the 2007 final as his most treasured encounter against the Asian neighbours.Until the recent Men’s T20 World Cup matches, Rohit – the ambassador for this edition – featured in every encounter between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. From making his debut as a youngster in 2007 to leading India to memorable wins over Pakistan in 2022 and 2024, his journey in this high-voltage rivalry has been significant.
T20 World Cup: Gautam Gambhir on Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah and record chase against West Indies
“My favorite World T20 match against Pakistan was definitely the final we played, nothing beats that. We won the World Cup.” Rohit cited the ICC.India and Pakistan played each other twice in the inaugural edition in 2007. Before the climactic clash, the group stage match ended in a draw and was decided by the tournament’s first ever bowl-out.“In the same year (2007), we also played a league match against Pakistan, which was the only bowl-out match in the tournament, and we came out on top there too. So in 2007, both the World Cup matches were special,” Rohit recalled.Another memorable chapter unfolded at the MCG during the T20 World Cup in 2022. After being dismissed early, Rohit watched from the sidelines as India recorded a dramatic comeback victory.“Yes, I was in the dressing room. Then I came out but I was nervous and I came back in. When the matches are so close, especially when you’re off the field and you know you can’t do anything, it just takes away that sense of control and I felt helpless. In fact, you feel helpless when you’re watching the match unfold when you can’t do anything about it,” Rohit said.Chasing 160, India found themselves in deep trouble at 31/4 before an extraordinary innings from Virat Kohli turned the contest on its head.“Kohli played blindly there. Again, that was very, very special to watch because we weren’t in a position to win that game, especially after we started.”“But the way we finished was amazing. It’s got to be one of the best games of cricket we’ve ever played – because of the occasion. It was an important World Cup game for us to win and to come back from that situation made it even more special,” said the 2024 World T20-winning captain.Rohit, who retired from T20 Internationals after playing 160 matches, admitted that nerves never left him during his career – and that the feeling motivated him.“I’ve played 160 T20 Internationals for India. I can’t remember a single match where I haven’t been nervous. I’ve been nervous in every match. That feeling makes me nervous and I don’t think as long as I’m holding this bat and going out there and going on the field, that feeling will ever go away. It stays with me. And that feeling means you still want to play the game and go out, Roth.”
