IND vs PAK: Babar Azam confesses Virat Kohli stabbed Pakistan Cricket Team in T20 World Cup 2022

Updated - 03 Jun 2024, 11:22 AM

Babar Azam and Virat Kohli
Babar Azam and Virat Kohli (Credits: X)

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is still unable to digest that Virat Kohli inspired India's victory at the ICC 2022 T20 World Cup where the Green Army became runners-up.

Virat Kohli, the man himself, played out a sensational knock in perhaps the biggest game in the World Cup. He single-handedly rattled the Pakistanis who were favourites to win the tie 15 minutes before India won. It also required a supporting act from All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who recently appeared to have some form under his sleeves against Bangladesh.

And following that loss, Babar Azam's side had endured another loss to Sikander Raza's Zimbabwe in a dramatic match but despite losing back-to-back games, the Green Army went all the way to the final. A win against South Africa and then the Netherlands' victory over the Proteas helped Babar Azam and Co. get through the Group stages.

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies already underway, fans are eagerly waiting for the Indo-Pak clash. This exuberant fixture will be played in New York and fans are expected to turn out in large numbers. Nervousness is also about kicking in, not just within the fans but also within the players.

Babar Azam points out Pakistan's fielding flaws

And on that note, Pakistan captain Babar Azam mentioned Virat Kohli in a podcast. Babar Azam points out fielding flaws During a recent appearance in a Podcast hosted by PCB, Babar Azam spoke about the chances that Pakistan squandered in recent ICC knockouts.

One of the matches that he mentioned was their Semi-final loss to Australia during the 2021 UAE edition. It was Babar Azam's first knockout game as a captain and he felt that his players could have given more. He also gave a reality check to Pakistan's fielding levels, claiming that their mistake on the field handed the momentum to the Aussies.

Yet Babar feels that it was a collective loss and not because of one particular player.

Babar says India took the game in 2022

The other game that gives Babar Azam bad memories is the loss his side suffered against India on October 23rd. King Kohli was able to get the best out of himself in that pressure situation while Pakistan watched on in sheer nervousness.

Legends of the game take center stage in this fixture and Virat Kohli took it on like he always does. Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 82 off 53 in the middle of a jampacked Melbourne Cricket Ground which also apparently witnessed the Shot of the Century.

Pakistan were pretty much ahead in the game but the final over from Mohammad Nawaz saw an eventful over turn into the main reason for the loss. Babar Azam feels that Pakistan could beat India and that they were able to successfully take it away.

"For me, in 2022 (T20 World Cup), we could and should have won the India game, but they took it away." - Babar Azam said via PCB Podcast. Meanwhile, Babar Azam and Pakistan have the chance to get their revenge on India in the upcoming Group A match on June 9 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

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