Rohit Sharma reflects on iconic India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clashes, calls 2007 final his favourite

Former Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma reflected on the defining moments of the thrilling India-Pakistan rivalry in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup since its inception in 2007. Until the 2026 T20 World Cup fixture, Rohit had featured in every India-Pakistan encounter in the tournament.

From being a young member of the squad during the inaugural 2007 edition to eventually leading India as captain in two famous victories against their arch-rivals in 2022 and 2024. Looking back on those unforgettable clashes, Rohit fondly recalls the 2007 T20 World Cup matches as his favourite fixtures against Pakistan.

“My favourite T20 World Cup match against Pakistan was definitely the final we played, nothing can beat that. We went on to win the World Cup,” said Rohit as quoted by ICC.

India and Pakistan faced each other twice in the inaugural edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007. Before their high-stakes meeting in the final, the two sides clashed in a dramatic league-stage encounter that ended in a tie and was decided by the tournament’s first-ever bowl-out.

“In that same year (2007), we also played a league game against Pakistan, which was the only match in the tournament decided by a bowl-out, and we came out on top there as well. So in 2007, both World Cup games were special,” Rohit said.

Another iconic India-Pakistan showdown took place at the T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After being dismissed early, Rohit could only watch anxiously from the sidelines as India mounted one of the greatest comebacks in T20 World Cup history. Chasing a target of 160, India found themselves in deep trouble at 31/4. What followed was a knock for the ages from Virat Kohli, whose masterclass under pressure guided India to a famous and unforgettable victory against their arch-rivals.

“Yeah, I was in the dressing room. Then I came out, but I got nervous and went back inside. When games are this tight, especially when you’re off the field and know you can’t do anything, it just takes that sense of control away from you, and I felt helpless. You actually do feel helpless watching the game unfold when you can’t do anything about it,” said Rohit.

“Kohli played a blinder there. That was again very, very special to watch because we were in no position to win that game, especially after how we started. But the way we finished was magnificent. It has to be one of the greatest cricket games we’ve ever played — because of the occasion. It was a World Cup game, an important one for us to win, and to come back from that situation made it even more special,” he added.

A veteran of 160 T20I appearances, Rohit admitted that the nerves still surface before every match, adding that the very feeling continues to fuel his passion and love for the game.

“I’ve played 160 T20 Internationals for India. I don’t remember a single game where I wasn’t nervous. I was nervous for each and every game. That feeling gives me nervousness, and I don’t think that as long as I’m holding this bat, going out there and taking the field, that feeling will ever go away. It stays with me. And that feeling means you still want to go out there, play the game, and give your best,” Rohit concluded.