Pakistan batter Babar Azam opened up on the moments he treasures most as captain and the opponents who shaped his cricketing growth during a candid conversation with Kevin Pietersen on “The Switch | Kevin Pietersen”. The former skipper said nothing comes close to the match Pakistan finally broke their World Cup jinx against India in Dubai in 2021.
Asked by Pietersen about his proudest achievements as captain, Babar didn’t hesitate. “It means a lot for me, I think, India… So when we are beating India in T20. I think, for me, one of the best. First time, as a Pakistani captain, I beat India in the World Cup. Yeah, it’s a very, very big thing,” he said. Pietersen agreed instantly, calling India–Pakistan contests “the biggest sporting event in the world,” bigger even than a football World Cup final in sheer impact. Babar said the magnitude of that win — Pakistan’s first over India in a men’s World Cup — remains unmatched in his career. The 2021 fixture, where Babar and Mohammad Rizwan chased down 152 without losing a wicket, became a defining landmark for Pakistan cricket. Babar’s calm 68* and Rizwan’s unbeaten 79 dismantled India in a 10-wicket victory, setting the tone for Pakistan’s run to the semifinals. It remains one of the most emphatic results in the history of the rivalry across formats. Babar also spoke about the lessons he has absorbed from the modern greats he has faced. He revealed he routinely seeks out opposition stars after matches to understand how they think and train. “When we have a match… after the match, I ask him in the match. I need your time after the match,” he told Pietersen, confirming he has spoken to Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and even India’s Virat Kohli.
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Asked what those conversations cover, Babar said the focus is always on preparation and mental discipline. “You know, mindset… focus and working hard. How many balls he’s playing in the day… when he’s batting in the nets, how focus in the batting time. The same mindset you take in the match or practice or different. So they give me good, you know, tips.” For Babar, the joy lies not only in the achievements but in learning from the best — though nothing, he stressed, matches the night Pakistan finally beat India on one of the biggest stages.
