The Rohit Sharma-led team crushed their arch-rivals by seven wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, continuing their outstanding performance at the 2023 World Cup and unbeaten history versus Pakistan in the 50-over competition. The match was a heavy story, which served as an anticlimax to the build-up, according to the script, which seems to be quite standard when it comes to World Cups.
With five bowlers taking two wickets apiece, India put on another masterful bowling display. Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah caused a middle-order collapse after Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had put together a worrisome 82-run partnership. Rohit then resumed where he left off in the game against Afghanistan with another display of masterful batting. His outstanding half-century performance, along with Shreyas Iyer's fifty, enabled India to chase down 192 with 117 balls left in the game.
The legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who played a key role in three of India's eight World Cup victories over Pakistan, crushed his old foe Shoaib Akhtar after the game. Shoaib had written a letter for the Babar-led team before to the high-profile match. Akhtar had advised the squad to approach with a calm and collected mind by showing a photo from one of his previous matches against the Indian side, which included Sachin.
He had said: “Kal agar asa kuch kerna hai, toh #ThandRakh.”
Sachin, on Saturday, replied saying: “My friend, aap ka advice follow kiya aur sab kuch billlkoool THANDA rakha… (My friend, they followed your advice and their performance was absolutely flat)”
With three victories in three games following the decisive victory over Pakistan, India today leads the points standings. They previously defeated five-time champions Afghanistan and Australia. Next Thursday in Pune, they will play their following game against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Pakistan is still in fourth place.
Also read :"Tendulkar on Rohit Sharma record breaking knock..."
0 Comments