IND Vs PAK: Pakistan Crumbled At 191, India Set To Outshine (image-twitter/bcci)
The World Cup match began with complete dominance of Indian bowlers, but as the batting turn came in for India, they had to start off with disappointment. Pakistan bowler Shaheen Afridi sent Shubman Gill back to the pavilion after scoring a breezy 11-ball 16 as Pakistan draw first blood. India has given power packed show for the match against Pakistan. India bowled out Pakistan for 191 runs in 42.5 overs. Pakistan front line-up was completely blown up by the Indian bowlers. India has staged a stunning comeback in the middle overs with Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav’s twin strikes which lead to collapse of Pakistan. They both were successful in clinching Muhammad Rizwan’s as well as Shabab Khan’s wicket. But it was none other that Asia Cup star Muhammad Siraj who gave the breakthrough for Indian team bowlers in the match. He began by dismissing Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.
From 155/2, Pakistan began to tremble as they lost five wickets for 16 runs. Though the partnership of Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan threatened India in the beginning, Muhammad Siraj’s and Hardik Pandya’s two timely strike got rid of the openers. Once Siraj had the Pakistan’s captain playing on, ending the 82-run stand, Pakistan’s wheel came off.
Kuldeep had Saud Shakeel out LBW before bowling Iftikhar Ahmed around his legs. Then the removal of each Pakistan batsman followed, Rizwan then Shadab and alas, all out for 191.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss against Pakistan and chose to field while announcing the return of Indian opening batsman Shubman Gill in place of Ishan Kishore. The highest run scorers of Pakistan are Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan with 50 and 49 runs respectively. Imam had batted solidly to reach 36 off 28 balls before Hardik delivered another blow giving Imam a send-off.
As India, begin with their batting, what comes next is completely unpredictable. Pakistan has never beaten India in a 50 over World Cup since 1992 and thus will they be able to create history in the Narendra Modi stadium at Ahmedabad is going to be a wait and see question.
