India to struggle against Pakistan in T20 WC 2022 if Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma don't score: Mohammad Hafeez

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. The eighth edition of the marquee event will be played in Australia from October 16 to November 13. All eyes will be on the high-voltage clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the iconic MCG on October 23.

While the India-Pakistan high-voltage clash is still over nine months away, it seems that the pre-match mind games have already started in the neighboring country with former skipper Mohammad Hafeez saying that India will struggle against the Men In Green if batting megastars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma do not rediscover their lost mojo at the earliest.

“At this moment, Pakistan team is growing and as far as India is concerned, I think Virat and Rohit are very important players and in big games like Pakistan, if these two don’t get the runs, it is very difficult for the other Indian players to deal with the pressure of such big games, though I am not taking anything away from the other players,” said Hafeez as quoted by Sports Tak.

Mohammad Hafeez says he is happy to be a part of the Pakistan squad that defeated India in T20 WC

While the recently-retired all-rounder does not have a 50-over or a 20-over World Cup, he is proud of the fact that he was a key member of the Pakistan squad that defeated the Men In Blue in a World Cup fixture. Babar Azam & Co. handed a 10-wicket defeat to the then Virat Kohli-led side in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 encounter.

“I always had this wish that if we (Pakistan) do win against India in a World Cup game, I should be part of it. I am proud of the fact that it did happen and I was part of it”, the veteran said.

In that contest, Rohit Sharma was out for a duck while Kohli was the lone warrior for India scoring 57. Rohit Sharma made himself unavailable for the ongoing South Africa tour citing an injury while Virat Kohli is struggling to rediscover his rhythm on the 22 yards. The duo would be hoping to make their bats do the talking leading up to the showpiece event in the shortest format later in the year.