'Beating India in 20-20 World Cup was the best moment for Pakistan in 2021' - Babar Azam

An India-Pakistan game is the cream of any global event. The teams don't face each other in bilateral series and only clash in global events. Naturally, every time the two teams are clubbed together in a group, the excitement among the fans knows no bounds.

Pakistan had never beaten India in any form of the World Cup. They were on a 12 match losing streak against their archrivals and the odds were against them going into the 20-20 World Cup in UAE. However, the Babar Azam-led team scripted history and went on to pick their maiden win over India in World Cups. It was not just any other win as Pakistan dominated India throughout the game.

The bowling led by Shaheen Shah Afridi restricted India to a below-par 151-7 before Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam scored half-centuries to take Pakistan to a thumping 10 wicket win. The win skyrocketed Pakistan's 20-20 World Cup campaign as they went on to win every league game and stormed into the semi-final undefeated.

The skipper termed the win as the best moment for the team in 2021. “It was a fantastic achievement for us as a team because we had not been able to beat India in the World Cups for so many years. It was our best moment of the year,” Babar was quoted by the Hindu.

The team though suffered a heartbreaking loss against Australia in the semis. Pakistan dominated Australia for the most part of the match but Matthew Wade played a blinder to stun Pakistan and take Australia to the summit clash. Babar revealed that the loss was the most heartbreaking moment for him.

“That defeat hurt me the most this year because we had been playing so well and as a combined unit,” he said.

Pakistan were very successful in 2021 and went on to win all their series barring England and West Indies. They suffered a 2-1 loss to England and then drew the series with West Indies. Still, it was a cherishable year for the team. At the forefront of this memorable year were Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who shouldered Pakistan's batting. Babar scored 939 runs in 26 innings at an average of 37.57, including 9 half-centuries and a hundred against South Africa. Meanwhile, Rizwan was even better and became the first batter to score 2000 T20 runs in a calendar year. Rizwan scored 1326 runs in 26 innings at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89, with 12 half-centuries and a century.