T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma Reveals Security Concerns and Inside Story of India-Pakistan Thriller

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is renowned for its intense atmosphere, a sentiment shared by both fans and players. Indian captain Rohit Sharma, a veteran of numerous high-pressure encounters, recently shared insights into the unique environment surrounding these matches.

Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, and Virat Kohli during a match. (PTI Photo)

Reflecting on the T20 World Cup 2024 clash between the two nations, Sharma described the pre-match atmosphere as akin to a festival, permeating everything from the team hotel to the stadium itself. India ultimately secured victory by six runs in a thrilling, low-scoring contest, with Jasprit Bumrah earning the Player of the Match award for his impressive figures of 3-14.

Sharma revealed the heightened security measures implemented before the game. "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 stated. "The atmosphere started building from there. We were ordering food in, and the hotel was so packed you could barely walk. Fans, media - everyone was there. That’s when you realise this isn’t just another match – something special is about to happen."

He further elaborated on the electrifying ambiance near the stadium: "As soon as we got near the stadium, it already felt like a celebration - Indian fans, Pakistani fans, all dancing and enjoying themselves."

Sharma emphasized the unparalleled energy surrounding these encounters: "I’ve played so many India–Pakistan games now - I’ve lost count - but that pre-match energy, that feeling… It’s always something else. Nothing compares to it," he confessed on JioHotstar’s special 'Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se'.

Pant's Crucial Innings

During the match, India faced early setbacks, with Virat Kohli (4), Sharma (13), and Axar Patel (20) falling cheaply. However, Rishabh Pant delivered a crucial innings, scoring 42 off 31 balls, including six boundaries, propelling the team to a respectable total of 119, as the other middle-order batsmen failed to reach double digits.

Sharma lauded Pant's impactful performance, noting that the wicketkeeper-batsman played to his full potential, stabilizing the innings on a 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. His innings was around 42, and on that pitch, that’s as good as scoring 70. It was a very challenging surface - something was always happening," Sharma explained.

He added, "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. But of course, we lost wickets along the way. And that’s when Rishabh played that crucial knock of 40-plus, which really held things together. 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."

Bumrah and Arshdeep's Stellar Performance

The opening batter also commended the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh for their exceptional bowling, which played a pivotal role in defending the total. He highlighted their significance 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. So, how do you balance that, especially when the opposition is chasing at a run-a-ball? Arshdeep has been phenomenal too. Over the last two years, there’s a reason he’s become India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is — he’s a really smart bowler," Sharma noted.

Concluding, Sharma detailed the strategy employed with the two bowlers: "So, with both of them, my focus was on how to use their remaining overs strategically. You think about which batters are coming in, how would they handle Arshdeep and Bumrah? 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."