Despite the long-standing animosity between the teams from the neighboring countries in the game, India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, showered compliments on the level of support he and his team have received from the Pakistani fanbase.
Rohit disclosed during a recent promotional event in Dubai that he feels “blessed” by the comments he receives from Pakistani supporters, especially when India plays them in major international competitions. One of the most popular rivalries in cricket will once again be on display when India and Pakistan play each other in the T20 World Cup on June 9 in New York.
During the conversation, Rohit praised Pakistani cricket supporters for their passion for the game and what he sees as their frequent transcendence of their on-field rivalry. The cricket community has frequently been surprised by the level of attention that an India vs. Pakistan match has received throughout cricket history when it comes to their historic match.
The current captain of India has led his team against Pakistan in significant competitions like the T20 and ODI World Cup, so he has plenty of experience leading his country in this important fixture.
During their conversation, Rohit shared how his interactions with Pakistani supporters have frequently left him feeling warm and fuzzy, particularly when the two teams played one another during the 2019 World Cup in the UK.
“The responses from the Pakistani fans were fantastic. They obviously adore cricket. These guys come in and politely tell us how much they adore us, how much they love Indian cricketers, and how much they love to watch some of us perform on major stages whenever we visit the UK. Basically, it’s a love of the game. It feels so good to have someone like them admire your work.”
India Squad for the T20 World Cup
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashashvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav. Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal. Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rimku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan
