Pakistan registered their first-ever World Cup win over India thanks to outstanding performances from Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.
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Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam stitched a fine unbeaten partnership to help their nation record a historic win against arch-rivals India. Rizwan and Azam combined to record the highest opening partnership by any team against Team India in the history of T20Is. The duo stitched a fine stand of 152 runs to help Pakistan emerge victorious by a margin of 10 wickets, in their Super 12 Group 2 encounter of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 against India. The former recorded their maiden win in T20 and ODI World Cup clashes against the latter, making it all the more significant. India were unbeaten in 12 ICC T20 and ODI World Cup encounters going into the match, but the run has certainly ended.
Rizwan and Azam further helped Pakistan record a triumph by a margin of 10 wickets in T20Is for the first time, scoring fine half-centuries. The former accumulated 79 runs from 55 deliveries in an innings comprising of 6 boundaries and three sixes. Azam smashed 68 runs from 52 balls in a knock that included six fours and two maximums. None of the Indian bowlers managed to make much of an impact.
Team India skipper Virat Kohli stepped up when his team needed a hero, delivering a fine performance on Sunday. Kohli accumulated 57 runs off 49 deliveries in an innings comprising of five boundaries and a six. The knock assumes even further importance considering the poor performance of the other batters in the lineup. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma were dismissed cheaply, with Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja dismissed without a significant contribution as well. However, Kohli maintained a resolute attitude to help India post a total of 151/7 in the encounter against India’s arch-rivals.
Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, accounting for three wickets. While he conceded 31 runs with the final over quite expensive, it was all worth it from his team’s viewpoint. Hasan Ali accounted for two dismissals as well, but leaked 44 runs.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam opted to field after winning the toss. Babar stated that his players would be looking to take early wickets and put pressure on the Indian batsmen.
“We are going to bowl first. We’ll look to take early wickets and put pressure. Dew is also a factor. We have had good practice sessions and am confident about our preparations. Pakistan’s bowlers are known to trouble other teams but I am confident about our batting too. Haider Ali is left out,” he stated as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Kohli admitted that he would have opted to field as well, but expressed happiness having been asked to set the target.
“We are pretty happy with setting the target. Would have bowled first too, but the toss is not in your control. We are pretty balanced with our squad and you need to be prepared for it. Need to stay as professional as possible. We need to stay focussed on the processes. Everyone watches it closely all over the world. We can use that as a motivation, but we need to ensure we don’t get too emotional and need to just stay professional. The pitch looks very different. Evenly rolled and there is no grass at all which was the case during the IPL, and I’m sure that was done to hold it together well for the World Cup. We expect the pitch to stay good all through and set a good total. The four not playing are: Rahul Chahar, Ishan Kishan, Ashwin and Thakur,” stated the Team India skipper.
