The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, delivered a near-perfect performance against arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup. Playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Indian team thrilled their supporters with a seven-wicket victory over the Babar Azam-led Pakistani side. India’s bowlers were clinical in dismissing Pakistan for 191 runs, and the Indian batsmen chased down the target in just 30.3 overs, with Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer both scoring half-centuries.
Before the match, there was a lot of anticipation and reactions from fans and experts. One particular tweet from former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar received a lot of trolling from Indian fans. Akhtar had posted a video of himself dismissing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar with the caption, “If you want to do something like this tomorrow, keep cool.” In response to Akhtar’s tweet, Tendulkar delivered a brilliant comeback after India’s victory, stating, “My friend, I followed your advice and kept everything cool…”
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma’s outstanding form dismantled Pakistan’s renowned bowling attack, leading India to a comprehensive seven-wicket win in Ahmedabad. The Indian batsmen looked in control from the start of the chase, while Pakistan suffered a collapse and lost their last eight wickets for just 36 runs. India won the toss and chose to field first.
Young opener Shubman Gill, making his ODI World Cup debut, played some impressive shots before losing his wicket. Virat Kohli joined Rohit, and together they scored some powerful shots before Kohli got caught off the bowling of Hasan Ali. Rohit and Shreyas then took charge and batted steadily, despite Pakistan’s efforts to break through.
The Indian fans, dressed predominantly in blue, filled the stadium, supporting their team and cheering as the Indian batsmen struck boundaries. Rohit fell short of a well-deserved century, scoring 86 runs before getting dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi. In his innings, Rohit surpassed the milestone of 300 ODI sixes, achieving this feat in just 254 matches.
After Rohit’s departure, Shreyas remained unbeaten on 53 runs, and KL Rahul contributed 19* runs to guide India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory. This win extended India’s unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cup matches to 8-0.
Earlier in the match, the Indian bowlers shattered Pakistan’s batting lineup, with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja all taking two wickets each. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 191 runs in 42.5 overs. Captain Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 50 runs, while Mohammad Rizwan made 49 runs.
Overall, it was a memorable victory for the Indian cricket team, delighting their fans and showcasing their dominance in the World Cup clash against Pakistan.