Babar Azam opens up on how he felt in India during World Cup 2023: 'Mai India se expect nahi kar raha tha'

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Babar Azam has opened up on his experience of visiting India for the World Cup 2023, saying that the Pakistan cricket team was warmly welcomed and received love throughout the country.

The 29-year-old, who has been reappointed Pakistan white-ball captain, said people flooded the stadiums even during the practice sessions. He had special mention for the cricket fans in Hyderabad.

“Mai India se expect nahi kar raha tha (I was not expecting it from India),” the star batter said on Zalmi TV about fans chanting his name in India.

“Mai bilkul nahi expect kar raha tha. Mai first time ja raha tha Indian mujhe wahaan ka koi knowledge nahi tha (I was not expecting it at all. It was my first time in India and I had no knowledge about the country).

“Maine baat ki thi wahaan ke conditions and all lekin jab hum wahaan utre aur jaisa unhone welcome diya wo outstanding tha (I have spoken to people about the playing condition and all but the welcome we’re given at Hyderabad airport was outstanding),” he said.

“Wo ek alag experience tha. Unka pyar tha, logo ne bahut pyar diya humey, bahut appreciate kiya (It was a different experience. It was their love, Indian people gave us so much love, they appreciated our cricket).

“Humare practice matches mey log aaye yaar, pura stadium packed tha. Hyderabad mey pura stadium packed tha (Even in our practice games, people were cheerring for us. The entire stadium in Hyderabad was jam packed,” he said.

Entire Narendra Modi Stadium was sea of blue: Babar Azam

Babar Azam also talked about facing India at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the world. He said the entire stadium was packed with India fans wearing the blue Indian cricket team jersey. India won the match by seven wickets and 117 balls remaining.

“It was a different vibe. The entire stadium was sea of blue. You are playing in India you can expect it. But in other venues, we also received expectional support as well,” Babar Azam, who "loved Hyderabadi Biryani and "unique" Samosa Chaat, said.

Babar Azam was also asked about his chats with Virat Kohli. He said: “I always try and talk to him whenever we play against each other. I always ask him few questions and he helps me with it. Not only him, I also talk a lot to Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, when we play against Australia and New Zealand, respectively. I had a good chat with Virat Kohli, there are things that we talk about that I can’t share here but it was fruitful.”