CHENNAI: When Kuldeep Yadav replaced Varun Chakravarthy at the beginning of the 14th over at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday evening, India were on the back foot. Pakistan had cruised, literally, to 110/2 in 13 overs with Sahibzada Farhan leading the way in their Super Fours match against the arch-rivals.
Along with Saim Ayub, Farhan had come out with intent and hadn’t let the Indian bowlers dictate the terms. To an extent, one could anticipate that is what they would try to do after the off-field drama and tension in the lead-up to the game. It seemed like they were keen on making a statement or, at the very least, trying their best even if they failed. Fakhar Zaman and Farhan came out all guns blazing, and Abhishek Sharma dropping a catch in the very first over of the match didn't help India's cause either, giving Farhan a life. The openers pounced on it. They took on Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun in the powerplay. The pressure did get to the Men in Blue as they dropped two more catches, with Pakistan getting going.
Pandya did slow things down with the wicket of Zaman, thanks to an off-cutter, but Ayub and Farhan recovered quickly. They went after Bumrah in such a way that the pacer was taken for 34 runs in three overs, all bowled up front. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel too weren’t spared as the duo swept, swatted and used the feet to launch Indian spinners into the stands. It was only when Shivam Dube’s lack of pace induced a top edge that India got a breakthrough – Ayub fell for 21 off 17.
India pulled back a little and turned to Kuldeep again when they were desperate for a wicket. And three overs without any boundaries meant Hussain Talat tried to go after Kuldeep and was caught at short-third. Dube followed up with the wicket of Farhan (who mocked a gun fire celebration after getting to his fifty) and soon, India were back on track.
The pressure kept mounting on Pakistan and it reflected on the scoreboard as well. From overs 11 to 16, Pakistan scored only 30 runs and lost three wickets. Skipper Salman Agha (17 not out from 13) and Faheem Ashraf (8-ball 20 n.o) took the final score to 171/5, but with dew coming into play and the Indian batting line-up, it was not an above-par total.
It did not take long for Pakistan to realise that either. India opener Abhishek Sharma took on Shaheen Shah Afridi, hitting the first ball for a six and that was just the beginning. Sharma’s onslaught continued, with Shubman Gill bringing out a flurry of strokes at the other end, as India raced 69/0 in the first six overs. If Sharma was the muscle, taking the charge to the Pakistan bowlers who had no answers, Gill was the finesse. He stood back and reacted to each ball with ease. There were some heated exchanges in the middle as well but that did not affect the Punjab duo’s concentration.
The two childhood friends defended only when they had to, but punished the slightest mistake from Pakistan bowlers. Sharma hit a 24-ball fifty, but Gill fell for 47 from 28 immediately after the drinks break. Suryakumar Yadav and Sharma (74 off 39 balls) fell in short intervals, allowing Pakistan to take the game deep. They took the pace off, making Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma work hard. Though the former fell, Pandya and Varma kept their cool to hand India yet another victory against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup.
Brief scores: Pakistan 171/5 in 20 ovs (Farhan 58; Dube 2/33) lost to India 174/4 in 18.5 ovs (Sharma 74, Gill 47; Rauf 2/26).