‘Pakistan batters were trembling to even bat’: Shahid Afridi on Mohali dressing room panic vs Dhoni’s India in 2011 WC

Shahid Afridi recalled how the electric Mohali crowd lifted the Indian side during the tense 2011 World Cup semifinal clash against Pakistan

Published on: Mar 12, 2026, 07:26:30 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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As India celebrated their third T20 World Cup title last Sunday in Ahmedabad after crushing New Zealand by 96 runs in a one-sided final, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi recalled the 2011 ODI World Cup, the only other time India had lifted an ICC trophy at home, beating Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

India beat Pakistan by 29 runs in the 2011 World Cup semifinal

One of the defining matches of that tournament took place in Mohali, where an MS Dhoni-led India faced Pakistan in the second semifinal. Riding on Sachin Tendulkar’s 85, India posted 260 before a disciplined bowling effort restricted Pakistan to 231 with a ball to spare.

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Speaking on Samaa TV, Afridi recalled how the electric Mohali crowd lifted the Indian side during the tense clash, to the point that it created panic in the Pakistan dressing room, leaving some batters trembling as they walked out to face the mounting pressure.

“I remember when we were playing the World Cup semi-final at Mohali in 2011, we made a very good start. Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal were batting and our score was 90 something for loss of no wicket (Pakistan were 44 for 0 before they lost Kamran Akmal). I, as the captain, was sitting relaxed in the dressing room believing that we will win the match. After the first wicket fell, the way the crowd got behind the Indian team and the way the Indian team were fighting, some of our batsmen were trembling while going out to bat. I, as a leader and captain, was seeing that after Hafeez got out (Hafeez got out with Pakistan score of 70 for 1), their players were high in confidence after every ball. I believe we came under a lot of pressure,” Afridi said.

India went on to win their second ODI World Cup title later that year under Dhoni, who had earlier led the team to victory in the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007.

With the latest triumph, India now have seven ICC titles, three T20 World Cups and two each in the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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