Asia Cup: IND vs PAK Review – Twin tons and a fifer scripts India’s biggest win
India and Pakistan went head to head in the highly anticipated clash of the Asia Cup 2023 and it was the former who secured the game in grand fashion on the reserve day. Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first on the first day. Indian opening batters Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got off to a flying start. They played some great shots and leaving the Pakistani bowlers clueless.
After the openers were dismissed, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli formed an outstanding partnership. They stood unbeaten at the time of rain intervention. Rahul returned and contributed 111 runs on comeback. While Kohli scored 122 runs, with the duo building a massive partnership of 233 runs. Kohli’s innings included nine fours and three sixes, while Rahul hit 12 fours and two sixes.
Chasing the target set by India proved to be a challenging task for Pakistan. Their openers struggled against India’s new ball bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah, whose swing, pace, and bounce proved too difficult to handle in favorable conditions early on. Hardik Pandya chipped in with the crucial scalp of Babar Azam while Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the standout bowler for India, taking five wickets for just 25 runs in his eight overs. With his exceptional performance, India comfortably won the game by 228 runs.
Top Performers of the Match
Virat Kohli (122 of 94 balls)
On a wicket that looked supportive for the bowlers initially, Kohli showcased remarkable batting skills, dominating the Pakistani bowlers and reaching his 47th ODI hundred. In the process, he also surpassed the milestone of 13,000 runs in ODIs, reaching their in record quick time (267 innings). His innings consisted of nine fours and three sixes.
Kuldeep Yadav (5/25, 8 overs)
Kuldeep’s exceptional leg spin skills proved to be too challenging for the Pakistani batters as he mesmerized them with his impressive flight, guile and the effectiveness of his spin bowling. He ultimately claimed 5 wickets, establishing himself as the standout bowler of the match.
What next?
On September 12, India will be up against Sri Lanka while Pakistan will be waiting for Sri Lanka on September 14.
