Shikhar Dhawan Reveals How Pakistan Fans Tried Cursing Him Before the 2015 World Cup Game
Published - 28 May 2020, 10:55 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:29 AM
Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has revealed the scenes before the 2015 World Cup match against Pakistan. The cricketing encounter between India and Pakistan never fails to produce an exciting contest. The battle between the two sides extends well beyond the in-field one as the tensions build amongst and with the fans too. In the Double Trouble show with Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikhar Dhawan revealed how Pakistan fans sledged him.
As far as India’s record against their arch-rivals goes, they hold a perfect record. The men in blue are undefeated in eight 50-over World Cup games against Pakistan with the latest one coming in 2019. Leading up to the 2015 World Cup game at the Adelaide Oval, India boasted of a 7-0 record. The southpaw recalled the time when he was striding out to bat, a host of Pakistan fans cursed him that he would get out for 15 runs.
The very opposite took place as the 34-year old played an imperious knock of 73 off 76 deliveries that contained seven fours and a six in a winning effort after MS Dhoni chose to bat first. The same people, who cused him clapped and appreciated him for playing an essential inning. Shikhar Dhawan continued saying that for Indian fans, their team must win against Pakistan at all costs.
“Our first WC game was against Pakistan and when I was walking down at the venue, Pakistan fans were shouting, ‘tu toh 15 runs banake out hojayega.’ I was like ‘oh okay’. And then, I went on to score 73 runs and the same people clapped for me on my way to the pavilion. For Indian fans, Team India should win against Pakistan by any means in ICC events no matter what. They taunt each other sitting in the stands.”
Shikhar Dhawan admits it is pressurizing when playing against Pakistan:
Despite having a flawless record against Pakistan in World Cups, the left-handed batsman feels the pressure against Pakistan due to the electrifying atmosphere in the ground. Reminiscing the 2015 World Cup against Pakistan, the Delhi batsman was far more jittery since his form wasn’t good before that tournament.
“I feel pressurized against Pakistan because of the environment in the ground, that’s a whole different feeling. I still remember our game against Pakistan in 2015 WC in Adelaide. My form wasn’t that good during that time, I didn’t play well in Australia series before the World Cup.”
Tagged:
India National Cricket Team Jemimah Rodrigues Pakistan National Cricket Team Shikhar Dhawan Smriti Mandhana
