Bolt for the Blue: Pakistan thrash India by 10 wickets, file first-ever World Cup win over arch rivals

Pakistan’s win was so convincing that even their die-hard followers went momentarily speechless earlier than going full throttle of their celebration. By then, as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan made a mockery of Indian bowling, Indian followers had already began to go away the stadium. Before this sport, Pakistan had by no means overwhelmed India in a World Cup. When ultimately they turned the tables, they received by 10 wickets, with 13 balls to spare.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓. 𝐀. 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 🔥#T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | https://t.co/UqPKN2ouME pic.twitter.com/CcKEZ9crdb
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 24, 2021
The night dew in Dubai made the job tough for the Indian bowlers. Also, they had been defending a fairly modest 151/7. And but, India had been utterly outplayed on the evening. The response from the Pakistan openers after the victory recommended that they meant enterprise. Rizwan restricted his celebration to a fist pump. Azam supplied a silent prayer earlier than the entire squad joined for a group huddle. Early days within the T20 World Cup, nevertheless it seemed like Pakistan have come right here to make an announcement.
On Sunday, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s bowling would have made even Wasim Akram proud. The conceitedness that Azam and Rizwan oozed in chasing down the goal supplied a throwback to Javed Miandad’s dominance over India within the Eighties. But even of their halcyon days, Pakistan by no means beat India by 10 wickets. This was their crowning glory and India’s lowest level on this rivalry.

Pure 🔥#T20WorldCup #INDvPAK https://t.co/IxSKyuJhLD
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 24, 2021
On match eve, Azam had spoken about how data had been meant to be damaged. Pakistan’s depth of their pre-match warm-up served as a sign about their resolve. Then, Afridi arrived, firing on all cylinders.

Fast and straight, and a few late motion into the right-handers. This has been Afridi’s template with the brand new ball in limited-overs cricket. An ESPNCricinfo stat says that since making his T20I debut in 2018, the left-arm fast took a wicket within the first over 20 instances in 61 innings earlier than this sport. On Sunday, he obtained his twenty first, eradicating Rohit Sharma for a golden duck. It was virtually an unplayable supply for an opener, going through his first ball.
KL Rahul was performed in by one other in-ducker, as soon as once more the ball shaping in and going by way of the gate. Such a frontal assault was all the time going to power India on the again foot. Virat Kohli’s effective half-century and Rishabh Pant’s 39 off 30 balls saved India from extra humiliation.
This was a sport for Afridi to treasure, returning with the wickets of Rohit, Rahul and Kohli. He was the showstopper, aided by a collective bowling efficiency; from Haris Rauf to Shadab Khan within the center overs.
Skipper the lone vivid spot
The solely solace for the Indian followers right here can be Kohli’s innings, how he weathered the storm and steadily returned to type, staying true to his typical stroke-play. But early wickets restricted him by way of upping the ante. A Kohli half-century with a strike charge of 116 is unusual. But the India captain needed to take the sport deep.

The Indian skipper main from the entrance on the large event 👏#T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | https://t.co/UqPKN2ouME pic.twitter.com/NllRDJMH9a
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 24, 2021
Also, not typically does Kohli get overshadowed by opposition batsmen in limited-overs cricket after scoring a half-century. Once once more, this sport was completely different.
Pakistan’s innings was a heady combination of Azam’s class and Rizwan’s smash. In stark distinction to Afridi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first over was pedestrian. Rizwan took a 4 and a six off the medium pacer to get going.
Mohammed Shami bowled the subsequent over, landed one on good size, however Azam stood tall and unleashed a beautiful cowl drive.
Kohli was fast to carry Jasprit Bumrah into the assault. Varun Chakravarthy, too, got here together with his thriller. They stemmed the run-flow to start out with, however Shami had a nasty day on the workplace. Pakistan’s Powerplay rating was 43 for no loss vis-a-vis India’s 36/3. That’s the place mainly the sport was received and misplaced.

An excellent knock from the Pakistan skipper 👏#T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | https://t.co/UqPKN2ouME pic.twitter.com/hEgG00dr03
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 24, 2021
Rizwan strong-armed to an unbeaten 79 off 55 balls. Azam was class personified in his 68 not out off 52 balls. And but once more, India missed a sixth bowler. Hardik Pandya was by no means going to bowl, and now there’s a query mark over his additional participation within the event after being hit on the precise shoulder whereas batting. Ishan Kishan fielded for him and in hindsight, the Indian group administration may need missed a trick by not together with him within the taking part in eleven on the expense of Suryakumar Yadav. On the heels of three consecutive T20 half-centuries, Kishan was most likely effectively positioned to make his good type rely.

Mohammad Rizwan now will get in on the act, notches up his half-century 🙌#T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | https://t.co/UqPKN2ouME pic.twitter.com/DA3uPgzkuz
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 24, 2021
Also, as the 2 Pakistan openers steadily found out Varun, and Ravindra Jadeja didn’t look potent on this sport, Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin was missed. India made a U-turn by utterly ditching wrist spin in opposition to Pakistan.
As he was leaving the stadium, Zaheer Abbas most well-liked to maintain feelings at arm’s size. “This is cricket and today was Pakistan’s day. They put India under pressure from the outset and never released it,” the previous Pakistan captain advised The Indian Express.
India misplaced the battle all proper, however the struggle (learn, the event) remains to be to be received. At the post-match presentation, Kohli admitted that they had been outplayed by Pakistan. But his group is sweet at making comebacks.