Rohit Sharma Reveals Security Concerns and Inside Story of Tense India-Pakistan T20 Clash

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is legendary, igniting passions among fans and players alike. India's captain, Rohit Sharma, a veteran of numerous high-pressure encounters, has shared insights into the unique atmosphere surrounding these games.

Rohit Sharma pictured with Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli.

Sharma recounted the T20 World Cup 2024 match between the two nations, describing the pre-match environment as a "festival" that enveloped everything from the team hotel to the stadium. India emerged victorious by six runs in a thrilling, low-scoring affair, with Jasprit Bumrah earning the Player of the Match award for his impressive figures of 3-14.

According to Sharma, the intensity began building days before the match. "Before the India vs Pakistan match, we were told there was a threat - something was going on. So, two days before the game, we weren’t allowed to step out of the hotel," he revealed. "The atmosphere started building from there...That’s when you realise this isn’t just another match - something special is about to happen."

He continued, "As soon as we got near the stadium, it already felt like a celebration - Indian fans, Pakistani fans, all dancing and enjoying themselves...Nothing compares to it." These reflections were shared on JioHotstar’s special 'Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se'.

During the match, India faced early setbacks with the dismissals of Virat Kohli (4), Sharma (13), and Axar Patel (20). However, Rishabh Pant delivered a crucial innings, scoring 42 off 31 balls, including six boundaries, propelling the team to a total of 119. No other middle-order batsman reached double digits.

Sharma lauded Pant's performance, emphasizing his impact on the challenging pitch. "We just wanted Rishabh to be Rishabh - do all the things he does best, unsettle the bowlers, play freely. And he did that perfectly," Sharma stated. "His innings was around 42, and on that pitch, that’s as good as scoring 70."

He further explained their strategy, "The par score there was probably 130 or 140. We ended up with 119. Our plan wasn’t to go for 200 - we were aiming for 140...Eventually, we got 119 - and I actually felt it could still be a good score. Maybe 10–15 runs short, but I knew that if we got 2–3 early wickets with the new ball, that 119 would start to feel like 160."

Sharma also praised the pace duo of Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh for their successful defense of the total, highlighting their value in the T20 format. "With Bumrah, you’ve got to be proactive in how you use him. He’s a wicket-taker, and at the same time, he’s not going to leak runs," Sharma noted. "Arshdeep has been phenomenal too...he’s a really smart bowler."

Concluding, Sharma detailed their tactical approach: "So, with both of them, my focus was on how to use their remaining overs strategically...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."