CWC 2023, India vs Pakistan: India pacer's 6-103, Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan's 82-run stand, Rohit Sharma's 86 are top performances. India beat Pakistan for the record 8th time in ODI World Cup. India move to top of the points table.
Brief Scores: India 192/3 (Rohit 86, Iyer 53*, Shaheen 2/36) beat Pakistan 191 (Babar 50, Rizwan 49, Bumrah 2/19) by 7 wickets.
Player of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah for his 2/19
The hosts India took on their arch-rivals Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in a league stage game match amid massive fanfare.
India had a 7-0 record in World Cups against Pakistan, and this dominating India win by 7 wickets ensured the lead swelled further to 8-0.
Talking points have to be the brilliant captaincy of Rohit, who kept his calm and rotated the bowlers pretty even when the partnership between Rizwan and Babar was flourishing. Rohit persisted with Siraj, who was expensive, but he was the one who snapped at Babar Azam.
And this wicket triggered a massive collapse, resulting in Pakistan getting bowled out for a mere 191.
Read More: CWC 2023, IND vs AFG: Rohit scores fastest WC century for India; hosts jump to second spot
India Pacers rule the roost
Pakistan's openers made a decent enough start by scoring at a good pace in the first few overs, but Siraj and Hardik got rid of the openers. Then Babar and Rizwan stood in for an 82-run stand for the 3rd wicket, but the wicket of the former triggered a massive collapse.
From 155-3, they got reduced to 171/7 and then bowled out for just 191. The 5 front-line India bowlers took 2 wickets apiece.
Rohit bestows his dominance
In response, India was off to a flyer, with the returning Shubman Gill and Rohit making a strong start. Gill departed, but the skipper continued his good from the last game to make his 2nd successive great score. He went for 86, but not before giving India a strong push towards a dominant win over the rivals. India won by 7 wickets with 20 overs to spare.
Top performers from the game India vs Pakistan, Ahmedabad
India pacers make merry bowling out Pakistan for a mere 191
India made the best use of some movement, with Siraj picking Shafique in under 10 overs. Imam, too, fell soon after. Then Rizwan and Babar made slow but steady progress, but their 82-run stand was broken through by Siraj, who dismissed Babar for 50. Then Bumrah followed up with a dream spell, dismissing Rizwan and Shadab in successive overs. This meant all 3 pacers, Siraj, Bumrah and Hardik Pandya picked 2 wickets apiece.
Babar-Rizwan's stand threatened to take the game away
After a steady opening stand that gave them 41 runs, India came back strong by picking both openers. Then, the experienced pair of Rizwan and Babar led the recovery of sorts for the Pakistani team. They made sure Pakistan did not lose any other wicket by slowly accumulating runs at will.
They were least troubled until a low-kept delivery by Siraj bowled a well-set Babar for 50.
Rohit was at his smashing best once again
From where he left off at Delhi, Rohit once again produced a sterling start for the hosts by punishing the Pakistan bowlers all over the park. India made 79 in the powerplays, and most of the runs came from the bat of Rohit. The India skipper made his fifty off 36 balls, allowing his team to reach the target in the 31st over.
Statistical Highlights from India vs Pakistan, Ahmedabad
It was the first-ever 50 in ODIs for Babar against India.
The 82-run stand between Babar and Rizwan was Pakistan’s second-highest 3rd wicket stand in ODI WC against India
191- This is Pak’s second-lowest all-out ODI score against India in India
With 117 balls remaining, this was India’s 2nd biggest win in terms of chasing against Pakistan.
Rohit goes past Kohli to become India's second-highest ODI WC run scorer.
Points Table & What’s next
India moved to the top of the standings with this win, and they will next face Bangladesh at Pune on the 19th. Pakistan stays at 4th and will face Australia on the 20th at Bangalore.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Points Table
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