The cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan is undoubtedly one of the biggest in the sporting world. It's become a battle of nerves whenever the two traditional rivals lock horns with each other on the cricket field.
Rivalry aside, there is also mutual respect between the cricketers of both countries and many of them are close friends as well.
On the eve of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, India skipper Rohit Sharma, his Pakistan counterpart Babar Azam and captains of the other participating teams engaged with the media.
WATCH – ICC’s post featuring Rohit and Babar as ‘best friends’ breaks the internet
During the media interaction, Rohit revealed how he greets Babar or any other member of the Pakistan team whenever they meet.
It all started when a journalist asked Babar what he usually says to Rohit whenever he meets the Indian captain.
“Ye (Rohit) bade hai mujhse, main koshish karta hu inse experience lu kyuki inhone itna serve kiya hua hai toh jitni zyada sikhi jaaye wo accha hai hamare lie. (Rohit Sharma is older than me. I try to take as much experience as possible from him as he has been playing for a long time.)," replied Babar.
Rohit then carried it forward, saying that players from both sides usually ask each other about their families and they also have a discussion on cars.
“Nahi jaise Babar ne bola… We understand the game against Pakistan, but there is no point in talking about it every time and creating that pressure within yourselves. Hum log aapas mein jab bhi mile jaise Asia Cup mile, abhi mile, hum puchte hai ‘ghar mein kya haalchaal hai? family kaisi hai?’ bas us cheez k bare mein hum bat karte hai. Aur jitne bhi inke teamates se main mila hu.. Jo hamare pahle generation k players hai unho bhi hame bataya tha apas mein gharr k bare mein baatchit hoti hai… ‘Life kaisi hai’ kaunsi nayi gaadi khareedi hai. Ye saab baat hoti hai. (Whenever we meet against the Pakistan players, we met them in the Asia Cup and now… we talk about how are things back home, how the families are. Even our previous generation cricketers also told us the same thing. We just talk about what is going on, how is life and what new car they have bought or they are about to buy)," remarked Rohit.
India and Pakistan will open their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign by taking on each other at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23.
