Former Pakistan captain and batting standout Babar Azam has shared his thoughts ahead of the much-anticipated blockbuster showdown with India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium.
In an interview with ESPNcricinfoBabar spoke of the unprecedented intensity and global attention that a clash between Pakistan and India invariably arouses.
He highlighted the pressure these matches bring – not only from fans, but also the responsibility of representing the nation on a big stage.
“As you said, a Pakistan-India match is always high intensity. The whole world and fans are involved. Even with so many spectators, the match is played at different levels and expectations naturally rise,” Babar said.
Drawing on his own experience, the 31-year-old stressed the importance of keeping your cool and managing expectations.
Babar highlighted how staying calm and not being distracted by outside opinions can make a crucial difference, particularly for young players navigating the hype of top-level fixtures.
“I have been to many matches and we have learned that the more we stay calm, relaxed and don’t listen to what people are saying, the better. Young people often get excited and talk about it, but if you stay calm and without tension it always works in your favour,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that both teams remain undefeated in the group stage so far. Pakistan recorded victories over Netherlands and USA, while India beat USA and Namibia.
Historically, India and Pakistan have met 16 times in T20 Internationals, with India winning 13 and Pakistan three.
In the T20 World Cup encounters, the two teams faced each other eight times, with India leading 6-1 and one match ending in a draw.
