Rohit Sharma Reflects on India's Thrilling Victory Over Pakistan in T20 World Cup

In a recent interview, Indian T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reflected on the team's nail-biting victory over Pakistan. He praised Rishabh Pant's crucial innings and discussed the challenges posed by the pitch at Nassau County Stadium. Rohit emphasized the importance of focusing on skills rather than the pitch conditions and shared insights into the team's bowling strategy. Despite the significance of defeating Pakistan, he maintained that it was just another match in their quest for the World Cup. Discover more about Rohit's thoughts and the match dynamics in this detailed overview.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 26, 2025, 19:53 IST

Rohit Sharma Discusses Key Moments Against Pakistan

Rohit Sharma, the captain of India's T20 World Cup-winning team, shared insights about the intense match against Pakistan during last year's tournament. He highlighted the significant impact of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, praising his 42 runs as equivalent to '70 runs' given the challenging pitch conditions.

A Memorable Match at Nassau County Stadium

On June 9, India triumphed over Pakistan by a narrow margin of six runs at Nassau County Stadium in New York. This victory marked India's second win in the tournament, culminating in their first trophy in 11 years after defeating South Africa in the final at Barbados. The Indian team remained unbeaten throughout the competition.

Rohit Sharma's Impressions of the Stadium

Rohit commented on the stadium's aesthetics, noting that while it appeared impressive, it lacked adequate practice facilities. He reminisced about his early days playing in Mumbai's Azad Maidan, as the dressing rooms were set up in tents. 'The stadium was beautiful. Upon our first arrival, we had a trophy unveiling ceremony, and that was my first glimpse of the ground. We couldn't practice there due to the absence of facilities,' he explained during an interview on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se'.

Challenges of the Pitch Conditions

Rohit described the pitch at Nassau County as difficult to navigate, particularly for determining a competitive total and identifying scoring areas. He emphasized that the team decided to disregard the pitch's challenges in their strategy, focusing instead on their skills and winning the match.

Rishabh Pant's Crucial Contribution

Rohit acknowledged Rishabh Pant's aggressive batting style, stating that no specific advice was given to him during the match. 'We just wanted Rishabh to play his natural game and unsettle the bowlers, which he did effectively. His 42 runs were crucial, especially considering the pitch conditions,' Rohit remarked.

Bowling Strategy Against Pakistan

Rohit shared insights into the team's bowling strategy, noting that Pakistan needed 60 runs in the last ten overs. He highlighted the importance of taking quick wickets to maintain pressure on the opposition. Rohit praised Jasprit Bumrah's performance, who took a key wicket on his first delivery, and commended the efforts of Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh in restricting Pakistan's scoring.

A Regular Win, Not Just Against Pakistan

Despite the significance of the victory over Pakistan, Rohit emphasized that it was just another match. 'We aim to perform well against all teams, and winning against Pakistan doesn't guarantee a World Cup victory. If we beat Pakistan but fail to win the World Cup, it won't be satisfactory,' he concluded.