Pakistan’s star cricketer Babar Azam has opened up about his most memorable moment as captain, calling Pakistan’s historic victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup the highlight of his leadership career.
During a recent interview with former England captain Kevin Pietersen on his YouTube show “The Switch,” Babar said: “Beating India means a lot to me. 2021, when we beat India in T20I, for me, it was one of the best memories I have. First time, as a Pakistan captain, I defeated India in the World Cup”.
The match took place on October 24, 2021, in Dubai, where Pakistan delivered a stunning performance. After choosing to bowl first, Pakistan’s attack kept India to a manageable 151 runs, with Shaheen Afridi delivering a brilliant spell that earned him three wickets and disrupted India’s top order.
Chasing 152, Pakistan didn’t break a sweat, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 79 not out and Babar Azam contributing an unbeaten 68, leading them to victory by 10 wickets in just 17.5 overs. This was Pakistan’s first-ever World Cup win against India after 12 consecutive defeats.
When Pietersen called India versus Pakistan “the biggest sporting event in the world,” Babar agreed, saying “India vs Pakistan is next level. It’s massive”.
The victory held special emotional significance for Pakistani fans worldwide. For years, Pakistan had struggled against India in World Cup matches across all formats, making this dominant 10-wicket win even more meaningful.
Babar, who recently returned to Pakistan’s T20I squad after several months away, also discussed his career goals. He expressed his strong desire to win an ICC trophy for Pakistan and hopes to captain the national team again across all formats.
The 2021 victory remains Pakistan’s only World Cup triumph over India to date, making it a defining moment in the intense cricket rivalry between the two nations.
