India and Pakistan are set to clash again in the T20 World Cup 2024, Group A match on Sunday in New York. Due to political tensions, they only face each other in ICC tournaments, heightening the intensity of their rivalry. Fans worldwide eagerly await these high-voltage matches.
The India-Pakistan encounter is celebrated like a festival in both countries, with fans participating enthusiastically and often coming up with humorous punchlines to mock the opposing team. One such popular line is, “Tel lagao Dabur ka, wicket lo Babar ka” (Put some Dabur oil and take Babar Azam’s wicket). Ahead of the much-anticipated match, India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant shared his thoughts on this chant, saying, “From a player’s perspective, they work hard for their country too. These kinds of banters bring a lot of emotion from both countries. Narratives like ‘Tel lagao Dabur ka, wicket lo Babar ka’ make the competition more interesting,” Pant said on India TV’s show, ‘Aap Ki Adaalat’.
Pant also recounted a sledding incident with Virat Kohli during an IPL 2024 match between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “It happened during the RCB game. I was banned without doing anything. I tried to prevent it but couldn’t. Sitting outside, I thought I’d disturb their mindset since the RCB dressing room is right behind the sightscreen,” said Pant. “At first, I didn’t realize they were calling their teammates. Once I did, I decided to tease him more and escaped without giving him a chance to respond,” he added.
