There was a lot of hype around this match between India and Pakistan. Most people base their expectations of India versus Pakistan matches on those that were played in the 1990’s and 2000’s, which were intense affairs, when there were highly talented players from both sides going all out against each other – Sachin Tendulkar versus Wasim Akram, Virender Sehwag versus Shoaib Akhtar, Inzamam ul Haq versus Anil Kumble.
Things were pretty equal between the two teams, but one might argue that back in those days, Pakistan had a slight edge over India. However those days are well behind us. This is a new India, and yes, this is a new Pakistan. The difference between the two teams was very much visible last night in Birmingham, England. New India was miles ahead of New Pakistan. It was not even a contest.
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India smashed Pakistan with ease last night, winning a famous victory, perhaps one of the easiest wins India has had over Pakistan. Indians were dominant. They were powerful, and just too good. They were hardcore professionals, while Pakistan resembled more like a village cricket team.
Batting first, India made 319 for 3, with four batsmen in the top order getting fifties and young all-rounder Hardik Pandya – who represents the New India that we alluded to – smashing 3 sixes in the last over of the innings to finish on 20 off 6 balls.
It was a rain curtailed game, and India could only play 48 overs. That was still enough for them to get a huge score and put the match beyond Pakistan. All Indian batsmen looked world class, starting with the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
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Sharma and Dhawan batted slowly but surely at the start and then started playing their shots. They gave India a solid foundation to build on, and by the time Dhawan lost his wicket, the Pakistani threat, if any, was already neutralized. The Pakistanis were shown up for the average players they were.
There is a lot of talk about Wahab Riaz and how he is such a dangerous fast bowler, but the way Indians treated Riaz was just amazing. They just treated him with contempt, smashing him for 87 runs off his 8 overs. The shot making was so brutal that Riaz broke down and may well have played his last game for his country.
Virat Kohli was at his brutal best today, as contemptuous of the Pakistani bowling as he is of the Indian media’s effort to create a discord between him and his coach, Anil Kumble. Yuvraj Singh was unbelievable, smashing a fifty off just 27 balls and taking the match away from the Pakistan completely.
The Indian bowlers did just as well as the batsmen, bowling to a plan, with control, pace and aggression. They showed just why India is reckoned to have the best bowling attack in world cricket today.
All of them were special – Umesh Yadav was fast and lethal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave nothing away, Jaspreet Bumrah was his usual effective self and young Hardik Pandya showed that India finally have a successor to the great Kapil Dev. Ravindra Jadeja was just as accurate as always. His run-out of Shoaib Malik just when he was looking dangerous finished the match as a contest.
Needing 289 to win off 41 overs under the Duckworth Lewis system, Pakistan folded meekly to 164 for 9. They were never in the hunt. The reigning Champions of the ICC Champions Trophy showed just why they are so good.
Well done, Team India!
