“. It was one of my best memories, especially as it was the first time I led Pakistan to a World Cup win against them,” Babar said during a conversation with former England captain Kevin Pietersen on The Switch YouTube show.
He described the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry as “next level” and “massive,” noting that the intensity of the contest is unlike any other in international cricket.
Babar, who was also part of Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy-winning side, emphasized his long-term goal of winning another ICC title. “I want to lift an ICC trophy. We reached finals before but fell short, so I’m focusing on improving my fitness and skills. My body feels different now, but I’m still sharp,” he said.
Recently, Babar ended an 807-day century drought, scoring his 20th ODI hundred against Sri Lanka. He credited the unwavering support of fans in Pakistan for helping him through a challenging phase where he struggled to convert starts into big scores. “The support from fans everywhere in Pakistan gave me a huge boost. Even during tough times, they never deserted me,” he added.
While the India-Pakistan match is often dubbed the “mother of all contests,” the cricketing record heavily favors India, with 15 wins in 16 World Cup encounters across T20I and ODI formats. Babar-led Pakistan’s 2021 victory remains their only World Cup triumph over India to date, a result that led to India’s exit in the group stage that year.
