“Before the India vs Pakistan match, we were told there was a threat” - Rohit Sharma makes a huge revelation

Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20Is and Tests, has opened up on playing against arch-rivals in the T20 World Cup 2024 edition. While Rohit won the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy titles, his dream of winning the ODI World Cup remains unfulfilled. 

During an interview with Jio Hotstar on the “Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se” episode, Rohit revealed some of the interesting anecdotes from the India vs Pakistan encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024.

The former T20I skipper asserted that the Indian players were requested not to come out of their hotel rooms ahead of their game against the arch-rivals Pakistan, as there was some threat. Furthermore, he added that matches against Pakistan aren’t just a normal affair.

"Before the India vs Pakistan match, we were told there was a threat - something was going on. So, two days before the game, we weren't allowed to step out of the hotel. The atmosphere started building from there," Rohit said on JioHotstar.

"We were ordering food in, and the hotel was so packed you could barely walk. Fans, media - everyone was there. That's when you realise this isn't just another match - something special is about to happen. As soon as we got near the stadium, it already felt like a celebration - Indian fans, Pakistani fans, all dancing and enjoying themselves," he added.

"I've played so many India-Pakistan games now - I've lost count - but that pre-match energy, that feeling... It's always something else. Nothing compares to it," he stated.

Notably, India defeated Pakistan by six runs in a low-scoring encounter in the group stage. While India got bundled out for 119 runs in 19 overs, Rishabh Pant played an important knock of 42 runs in 31 balls with six fours. 

In Pakistan's chase, Jasprit Bumrah played an exceptional role by scalping the major wickets of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Iftikhar Ahmed as Men In Green could score only 113/7 in 20 overs.

"We just wanted Rishabh to be Rishabh - do all the things he does best, unsettle the bowlers, play freely. And he did that perfectly. His innings was around 42, and on that pitch, that's as good as scoring 70,” he elaborated.

"With Bumrah, you've got to be proactive in how you use him. He's a wicket-taker, and at the same time, he's not going to leak runs. So, how do you balance that, especially when the opposition is chasing at a run-a-ball? Arshdeep has been phenomenal too," he asserted.

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