‘Babar Azam is a class player but Rizwan has played a big role in making him classy’ – Aakash Chopra

October 24, 2021 – the date Pakistani fans will never forget as the team finally managed to break the jinx and beat India for the first time in the 20-20 World Cup. The catalyst of this thumping 10-wicket victory was Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. The duo put on a stand worth 152 runs and finished off the run chase in a calm manner.

Several experts were impressed by the duo’s approach in such a high-octane game. Jumping into the bandwagon, former India opener Aakash Chopra was also effusive in praise of the duo’s performance and said that Rizwan’s aggressive style of play has made Azam more effective. Chopra feels by taking some pressure off the Pakistani skipper, Rizwan has made him play with a clear mind. In the past year or so, the Babar-Rizwan duo has scored four 100-run partnerships in the shortest format.

“India has never lost by ten wickets and no other pair has batted with such dominance against India in T20I cricket,” said Chopra on youtube channel.

“Babar Azam is a class player but Rizwan has played a big role in making him classy. What a stroke player Rizwan is, he accelerates so that Babar can manage to play run-a-ball. It was a dominating display of batting and a proper annihilation of sorts in a destructive manner,” he added.

Rizwan was quick of the two batters and managed to score his runs at a brisk strike rate of 143.64 and finished unbeaten on 79. He seamlessly switched gears and allowed Azam to play at his original pace. The wicketkeeper-batter attacked the India pacers and spinners with relative ease and didn’t allow Indian bowlers a sniff. Azam, on the other hand, remained not-out on 68 off 52 balls.