Mohammad Hafeez's Insights into India's Captaincy Eras: Ganguly, Dhoni, and Kohli

Mohammad Hafeez, the seasoned Pakistani all-rounder, has seen India through three different captaincy eras - Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. While he praised all three captains for taking India to new heights in their own ways, he reserved his ultimate praise for Ganguly, stating that he laid the foundation for India's belief that they could beat the world.

In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times Digital, Hafeez also spoke about his participation in the ongoing Legends League Cricket in Doha, his most memorable India versus Pakistan moment, and the 2017 Champions Trophy final.

Hafeez, who was part of the first edition of LLC, found it exciting and loved the concept. He was also happy to meet some of his old rivals and teammates, including Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir.

As for his most memorable India versus Pakistan moment, Hafeez cited his 61-run innings off 44 balls in the T20I match in 2012 in Bengaluru. He remembers the pin drop silence in the packed stadium when they won the match.

When asked about which Indian side was the best or the most competitive, Hafeez said that the foundation was laid in the Ganguly era, where the mindset was developed that they could beat the world. He praised Dhoni's captaincy, which saw a finer version of that mindset, and that continued through the years, making India one of the most favorite teams in any series or tournament.

Hafeez also spoke about the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs. He credited the team's strategy of setting a 339-run target, which put pressure on India's batsmen. He also praised the performances of Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir, which fell in place for Pakistan. While Hardik Pandya performed well for India, his efforts were not enough to turn the match in India's favor.

In conclusion, Hafeez's insights into India's captaincy eras and his memorable moments against India shed light on the fierce rivalry between the two cricketing nations. With LLC providing an opportunity for former rivals and teammates to come together, it highlights the importance of sportsmanship and camaraderie in the world of cricket.