INDIAN LIONS MAULPAKISTAN TO EXTEND WORLD CUP DOMINANCE OVER ARCH RIVALS

A pride of lions stalks its prey, then waits for it to become a little less vigilant and pounces for the final kill at the most opportune time! This is not a script of a National Geographic documentary but an apt metaphorical description of how India defeated Pakistan in their ODI World Cup encounter on Saturday. In front of a mass of blue at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Team India continued their supremacy over their arch rivals, extending their record to 8-0. India looks a formidable outlook, one that will be certainly dejected if it falls short of the World Cup!

On a good batting track India invited the Pakistanis to bat. Shubman Gill was back on his IPL ground and Ishan Kishan was dropped to accommodate him. The start by the Pakistani openers reminded one of the 2011 World Cup semifinal when Virender Sehwag hit Umar Gul for 5 fours in an over. While the destruction wasn’t that strong, they did hit 4 boundaries in 5 balls in the first 2 overs. It was then that Bumrah showcased his skills that make him the leading fast bowler in across formats. In his next 2 overs, Bumrah gave away just 1 run though Siraj was leaking runs galore.

This control from one end didn’t allow Pakistan to get off to a galloping start and kept India in the hunt since the first wicket came in the 8th over when Siraj castled Abdullah Shafique leg before. In a few more overs, Imam-Ul Haq was also dismissed, caught behind off Hardik Pandya. Even after a brisk start, Pakistan averaged just 5 runs an over till Indian spinners took charge. Both Jadeja and Kuldeep too bowled with guile and discipline, keeping the duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan at bay.

Although the star Pakistani batsmen stitched a 98- run stand, they had a bucket of dot balls as Indian spinners didn’t allow easy rotation of strike. While they bowled to a plan, as later revealed in postmatch interviews, Rohit’s captaincy too is to be appreciated for field placings and bowling changes. Bringing back Siraj for a second spell led to the wicket of Babar Azam!

The breakthrough made Rohit tighten his field placements for the new batsman, thus helping Kuldeep scalp the next 2 batters in just one over. Sensing the moment, Rohit went for the kill and introduced Bumrah as there was a hint of reverse swing as well. Bumrah’s slower one bowled Rizwan and in the next over, he hit the top of Shadab Khan’s off stump with a beauty. Pitched on middle stump it straightened into a delivery that would have accounted for most batters around the world!

With Pakistan in tatters, India never took the foot of the pedal and dismissed them for a paltry 191. With a small total, Pakistan needed early wickets along with a check on the scoring rate but Rohit’s first ball hit to the boundary was a statement that the Indian side wasn’t to be subdued chasing a low score. Shubman too hit 4 boundaries for his 16 but got out cutting to point.

Unlike the Pakistani batsmen, Indian batters did not allow the fall of wickets to dent their attacking intent. Rohit and Virat put on 56 runs together in the next 7 overs, putting India well in command. Rohit eventually got out at 86 but not before he had almost sealed the win. It was a brutal display of six hitting from him once again. He hit 6 sixes on the night to go with 6 fours. His aggression rubbed on to Shreyas Iyer also who took India home with an unbeaten 53 that included 2 mammoth sixes as well.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Siddhaarth Mahan The writer is a specialist on Sports and Cinema who works as an actor in the Hindi film industry