IND vs PAK Live: Hardik Pandya Rescues India with Fakhar Zaman Wicket
After conceding 18 runs in his opening two overs, Hardik Pandya redeemed himself by dismissing the dangerous Fakhar Zaman in the 13th over. Pandya delivered a short-pitched ball, which Zaman attempted to loft for a six. However, the ball clipped his bat, shoulder, and soared into the air. Rishabh Pant, behind the wicket, took a few steps back to judge the trajectory and completed the catch.
Axar Patel Strikes in His Opening Over
Axar Patel made an immediate impact, claiming the wicket of Usman Khan with his very first delivery of the match. Patel's slider deceived Khan, who was trapped plumb in front of the wicket.
Pakistan Progresses Steadily in Run Chase
Pakistan maintained a steady pace in their pursuit of India's 120-run target, crossing the 50-run mark in the first nine overs. Hardik Pandya's performances, however, proved costly, as he conceded runs at a rate of 9 runs per over in his first two overs.
Ravindra Jadeja Introduced into Attack
In the 8th over, India sought to counter Pakistan's momentum by introducing spin. Ravindra Jadeja was tasked with providing a breakthrough, but Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan managed to pick up four singles without taking any risks.
Pakistan Completes Powerplay with 35 Runs
Pakistan completed their powerplay with a score of 35 runs. Hardik Pandya's over during this period yielded 9 runs, allowing Pakistan to maintain a steady pace in their run chase.
Jasprit Bumrah's Delivery Creates Opportunity
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah had put the Pakistani batsmen under pressure with a series of dot deliveries. The tension culminated in a breakthrough for India when Babar Azam edged a delivery that jumped sharply off the pitch. Suryakumar Yadav took a spectacular catch in the slips, giving India a much-needed wicket.
Mohammad Rizwan Survives Dropped Catch
Jasprit Bumrah continued to apply pressure in his opening over, creating an opportunity for India in the form of a dropped catch. However, Shivam Dube failed to hold on to a low catch at deep fine-leg, allowing Mohammad Rizwan to survive.
Pakistan Posts Solid Start
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan provided Pakistan with a solid start, demonstrating their experience in low-run chases. Their partnership ensured that Pakistan remained on course to reach the target safely.
The Chase Commences with Babar and Rizwan at the Crease
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan opened the innings for Pakistan, facing the challenge of Arshdeep Singh, who bowled the first over with the new ball. India's bowlers recognized the importance of picking up early wickets to disrupt Pakistan's progress.
Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes India's Batting Performance
Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with India's batting performance, labeling it as arrogant and poor. He believes that the team's recklessness and lack of application contributed to their underwhelming total.
