Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has spoken about the pressure and emotions surrounding the highly anticipated match against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Babar described a Pakistan vs India match as one of the most intense contests in cricket. He said the rivalry goes beyond the field and attracts enormous global attention and expectations.
According to Babar Azam, not only do fans in both countries closely follow the game, but the entire world watches whenever the two rivals face off. Because of that, the match moves to another level, and expectations from players increase significantly.
“A Pakistan-India match is always high intensity. The whole world and the fans are involved, and expectations naturally rise,” Babar said.
🎙️ Babar Azam on the highly anticipated match against India pic.twitter.com/QVhSUueuUY
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 14, 2026
The 31-year-old emphasized that mental composure plays a crucial role in such high-pressure encounters. Drawing from his experience, he explained that staying calm and blocking out outside noise can make the difference between success and failure.
“We’ve learned that the more we stay cool, relaxed, and don’t listen to what people say, the better it is. Youngsters often get excited, but if you remain tension-free and composed, it works in your favor,” he added.
Both teams will enter Sunday’s clash unbeaten in the tournament. Pakistan have recorded victories over the Netherlands and the USA, while India have defeated the USA and Namibia.
Historically, India have dominated the T20 International rivalry, winning 13 of the 16 meetings between the two sides. Pakistan have won three. In T20 World Cup history, India hold a 6-1 advantage, with one match ending in no result.
