In the tense PAK vs IND match of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 on Monday, India defeated Pakistan by a margin of 228 runs thanks to centuries from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, as well as a five-for from Kuldeep Yadav.
India Beat Pakistan by 228 runs: Pakistan had a huge uphill battle ahead of them if they wanted to secure a place in the 2023 Asia Cup final versus India, who would need to chase a huge 357.
“After a disastrous start, a startling rate of wicket losses plagued the hosts, and they were bowled out for a pitiful 128 runs in 32 overs, giving India a resounding victory to kick off their Super 4s campaign.”
With a meagre 27 off 50 deliveries and the help of two boundaries, Pakistan’s out-of-sorts opener Fakhar Zaman continued to lead the team in scoring despite their poor batting performance.
Salman Ali Agha and Iftikhar Ahmed, who both scored 23 points, were Pakistan’s next-best contributors after Fakhar, followed by captain Babar Azam (10 points).
In addition to them, none of their batsmen could reach double figures, which allowed Pakistan to score 128 runs for the loss of eight wickets.
The pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah’s inability to bat resulte in Pakistan being adjudge bowl out for a paltry total.
Kuldeep Yadav spearheaded India’s bowling attack in the intense PAK vs. IND match with a five-wicket haul that only cost 25 runs.
While Jasprit Bumrah, who is back, Shardul Thakur, and Hardik Pandya each contributed one wicket.
Virat Kohli hit nine boundaries and three sixes on his way to a magnificent 122 from 94 balls. He reached his 13000 ODI runs, making him the fifth player to do so, and achieved his 47th ODI century, second-most in ODI hundreds.
KL Rahul, meanwhile, triumphantly returned to the world of professional cricket after suffering an injury in the Indian Premier League in April-May. He hit 12 boundaries and two sixes in his 111 runs off 106 balls.
The highly anticipated PAK vs IND match was postponed yesterday to the reserve day after heavy rain prevented play on Sunday. KL Rahul (17) and Virat Kohli (8) resumed their batting at 147 and extended their dominance against Pakistani bowling.
Notably, Pakistan had to employ Iftikhar Ahmed, who concede 52 runs in 5.2 overs, as they took the pitch without their star fast bowler Haris Rauf, who was injure.
In yesterday’s high-stakes PAK vs. IND match, Pakistan captain Babar Azam elected to go to bat first and gave India the ball.
India got off to a fast start thanks to a stunning 121-run combination between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. They outperformed Pakistan’s pace three of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah with their bowling attack.
Gill and Sharma both produced impressive comebacks after struggling against the trio in the last PAK vs. IND match on September 2.
Before Shadab Khan finally struck in his third over, eliminating Sharma shortly after he reached his half-century, the combination frustrated Pakistani bowlers.
In his quick 49-ball 56, Rohit Sharma hammered six boundaries and four sixes.
On the other hand, Shaheen Shah Afridi outclassed Gill with a slower ball, and Gill quickly followed his captain’s example by returning to the pavilion in the following over.
He made a 58 off 52 balls, including 10 boundaries.
Before yesterday’s PAK vs. IND match was interrupte by rain, star batsman Virat Kohli and returning KL Rahul cautiously batted as they formed an unbeaten 24-run stand for the third wicket.
On the reserve day, they started out carefully before picking up speed in the later overs.
A superb unbroken partnership between KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, totaling 233 runs in 194 balls, completely destroyed the Pakistani bowling lineup.
Shaheen Afridi, a prominent fast bowler for Pakistan, took one wicket and conceded 79 runs in his ten overs, while Shadab Khan also captured one wicket for 71 runs.