Babar Azam has recently reflected on Pakistan's historic victory against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup, describing it as a defining moment in his career as national captain. In an interview with former England legend Kevin Pietersen on his YouTube show "The Switch," Azam recalled the emotional significance of the win, highlighting it as his favorite memory as Pakistan's captain.
The match, held in Dubai, saw Pakistan defeat India by 10 wickets, marking their first-ever World Cup win against their arch-rivals in twelve attempts. Azam noted that before that night, India had maintained an unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cup matches, regardless of the format.
Pakistan's victory was comprehensive. After winning the toss and electing to field, they restricted India to 151/7. Shaheen Afridi's impressive three-wicket haul played a crucial role in the first innings, while Virat Kohli's half-century was the only significant contribution from the Indian batting lineup. In response, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan chased down the target in just 17.5 overs, both scoring unbeaten half-centuries. Azam finished with 68 and Rizwan with 79, their 152-run partnership being the biggest opening stand in the history of the T20 World Cup. This was also Pakistan's first ten-wicket win in all T20 international matches and India's first defeat by this margin.
Babar told Pietersen, "Beating India means a lot to me... For me, it was one of the best (memories). First time, as a Pakistan captain, I defeated India in the World Cup". Pietersen responded by saying that the India-Pakistan rivalry is the "biggest sporting event in the world". Babar concurred, stating that the rivalry is on "another level".
The victory was not only a milestone for Babar Azam, who became the first Pakistan captain to achieve this feat, but also a moment of immense pride for the entire team and its fans. Azam acknowledged the achievement, recognizing the historical importance of the win.
Despite the significant triumph against India, Pakistan's journey in the 2021 T20 World Cup concluded in the semi-finals, where they lost to Australia. However, the win against India had a lasting impact, boosting the team's confidence and raising their profile.
