“I Actually Feel Bad For Them,” Ishant Sharma Feels For Pakistani Cricket Team Facing Immense Pressure

Ishant Sharma shared how Pakistan has lost its identity as a cricketing powerhouse over the past few years, posing no real threat to Indian team.

“I Actually Feel Bad For Them,” Ishant Sharma Feels For Pakistani Cricket Team Facing Immense Pressure

Ishant Sharma expressed his empathy with the Pakistani cricket team, amid growing pressure. (via News 18)

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Veteran India pacer Ishant Sharma expressed empathy for the Pakistani men’s cricket team, noting the immense pressure they face when competing against the Indian side. Sharma highlighted how the Pakistani players remain under pressure, and also lack quality like their predecessors.

India and Pakistan are set to face each other for the third time in the final of the ongoing 2025 Asia Cup. Pakistan is yet to win a match at the 2025 edition of the tournament against their arch-rivals. The Men in Green first lost the group stage fixture on September 14 by a margin of seven wickets in a low-scoring encounter, and extended their poor run by subsequently losing the ‘Super Four’ game by six wickets. 

Since 2022, India and Pakistan have faced each other ten times across all competitions. Such has been the Men in Blues’ dominance that it has won eight out of those last ten matches, losing only one. The head-to-head record in T20Is is also heavily in India’s favor, with 11 wins from 15 encounters compared to Pakistan’s three. All of it has raised questions over Pakistan’s ability to match up to India’s level, with many including Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav dismissing the notion of a true rivalry.

Veteran India pacer Ishant Sharma shared his thoughts on how the fierce yet one-sided India-Pakistan rivalry. Speaking on Raj Shamani’s YouTube podcast, the 37-year-old pacer made a brutal assessment of the current Pakistani side, suggesting that it lacks world-class talents unlike before. He stated that the rivalry was at its peak when legends like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar played.

The pressure will be high [during an India vs. Pakistan], but that was more during the time when they had great players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq… these were great players.

Ishant Sharma further noted that he feels sorry for the Pakistani side, emphasizing that the players are already under immense pressure from their own fans, and any competition with India only adds to their stress.

The veteran pacer highlighted how Pakistani cricket fans vent their anger and frustration over the team’s performance, and added that the Men in Green lack the talent, infrastructure, and exposure enjoyed by the Indian team.

Pakistan already have so much pressure on them, how will they handle more from us?… Their fans in the crowd are always shouting behind them from the stands. Actually sometimes I feel bad for them.

Despite the criticism, Pakistan still remains in contention to win the 2025 Asia Cup, after having made it to the final. The Men in Green made a comeback, finishing second in the ‘Super Four’ standings with two wins out of three matches, and four points in the end. 

Ishant Sharma Reveals Hilarious In-Game Exchange With Young IPL Star During 2024 Season

Ishant Sharma recalled a hilarious in-game exchange that he had with Ayush Badoni, who also happens to be Sharma’s domestic teammate, during a 2024 IPL encounter. The 37-year-old exclaimed that he had playfully sledged the 25-year-old batter after getting hit for a boundary. 

Ishant Sharma on Pakistan team
Ishant Sharma revealed that he playfully sledged Ayush Badoni during an IPL 2024 match. (via News 18)

The incident occurred in a match between Sharma’s Delhi Capitals and Badoni’s Lucknow Super Giants. While DC did win the match by six wickets in a 167-run chase, LSG star Ayush Badoni mesmerized fans with his batting abilities under pressure, scoring a fighting 55 runs off 35 deliveries. Interestingly, despite being over ten years younger, Badoni has captained Ishant Sharma in Delhi’s domestic cricket setup.

Speaking on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Ishant Sharma revealed that Ayush Badoni stared at him after hitting him for a boundary, prompting the veteran pacer to retaliate with a playful sledge. Sharma admitted he instructed the young Delhi batter to put his eyes down or he would put him in his pocket. Sharma laughed off the confrontation, suggesting that the competitive spirit of the sport led to the humorous exchange.

It was last year [in IPL] that he [Ayush Badoni] hit me for a four and was staring at him, and I said Badoni, ‘Jeb me daal ke le jaunga tujhe, jeb mein’ [I would take you in my pocket], and he put his eyes down.

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma has long fallen out of favor with the Indian cricket team, and it is likely that he might soon announce his retirement. He last played for the Men in Blue in November 2021 in a Test match against New Zealand, and has also received limited playing opportunities in the IPL.

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