Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit unbeaten half-centuries as Pakistan recorded a thumping 10-wicket win over India in their opening game of T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday, Octob🥀er 24.
Chasing 152 for victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Pakistan openers looked in supreme touch while Indian bowlers looked for a breakthrough thꦓroughout the innings.
Earlier, Indian captain Virat Kohli scored his 29th half-century in T20Is before being dismissed for 57 by Shaheen Afridi as the Men in Blue posted 151🐟/7 on the board in their stipulated overs.
Left-arm pacer Afridi removed Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in his first ꦕtwo overs b🧜efore Hasan Ali removed Suryakumar Yadav to give Pakistan a great start in the powerplay overs.
Along with Kohli, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also played a handy knock of 39 from 32 deliveries. Pant lost his wicket in the 13th over, just when India started their counterattack. Next batsman Hardik Pandya failed to get g💜oing, and India just managed to surpass t⛎he psychological 150-run mark on a good batting wicket.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Masterclass of note! 👏😎🇵🇰
— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66)
Pakistan has changed history tonight! All the stats have changed for good. Keep the winning streak and inshaAllah this world cup will be coming to Pakistan. Love𝐆 u boys in green🇵🇰
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul)
Well done Team Pakistan 🇵🇰 MashaALLAH
i am so happy and excited for your extraordinary winning success.
What a knock
Well bowled
— Yasir Shah (@Shah64Y)
It wasn’t India’s day today. Am sure they will learn from their mis🌳takes and come back stronger But I must compliment Pakistan for 💜their Brilliant win . They were a better team today
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Finally the jinx is over winning against India in World Cups♔. What a thumping win by boys in green…
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive)
Congratu🅘lations to team Pakistan on winning the ga⛄me. Team India will definitely come back better and stronger!
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina)
Wꦺhat an absolutely stunning win for Pakistan. Just brilliant.
— Amy Lofthouse (@_amylofthouse)
What a way to end their World Cup jinx against India. Afridi struck the early blows to set up the game for Pakistan, and the openers left nothing to chance. Excellent batting from Babar & Rizwan. India have plenty of work ahead, bu♊t have the pedigree to bounce back qui𒐪ckly.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Of course all of us are disappointed but let’s keep our hopes and heads high. The World Cup is far from over. Now is the t🦂ime to r♒egroup and bounce back!
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9)
Kya baat hai. MashAllah.
Chhaa gayay.— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph)
Nerves, pressure, excitement and enthusiasm
How Good is this 😍🏏,
Whatta game of Cricket 🇵🇰 💚vs 🇮🇳 💙 vs
Biggest game on Planet 🌎 💚💛— Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23)
Congratulations team Pakistan. Great moment for a♔ll the Pakistanis around the world. Enjoy the win. A wonderful start to the tournament. Hopefully we can continu෴e like this.
— Junaid khan 83 (@JunaidkhanREAL)
Well played ! Yes w🐽e wanted to win, but that’s t💞he beauty about sports…it’s unpredictability
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha)
What a statement Pakistan just made in the Now favourites in my opinion after that 💦emphatic win over India. Just a super all round & impressive performance. Babar Azam continues to enhance his reputation as one of the be𒁃st batters in the world in all forms !!
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne)
Top notch stuff & . What a game �𒈔�⛎🏼 Nothing’s more joyous than a successful beginning to the World Cup campaign. Keep going team!🇵🇰
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki)
Rizwan MOM, created the momentum in the PP putting the pressure on the ♓India👍n bowlers.
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg)
Babar Azam has won all his 12 T20Is as a player in the UAE. Hits the winning runs. Played a captain's knock. What an effort from Rizwan: averages 100+ in T20Is in 2021. That's a startling fact
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Congrats Pakistan! After a turbulent few months and less than ideal preparation – an incredible performance to announce themselves in this tournament. India will be back but a big reality check for sure.
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
This is all class from Pakistan, what a partn🍰ership!!
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
Clinic🍨al rizwღan and babar 👌 big statement by Pakistan 👏👏
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru)
Before Today
Pakistan never won a T20I game by 10 Wickets.
India never lost a T20I game by 10 Wickets.
Pakistan never won against India in World Cup.
Now all thr𝐆ee happened! Well Played Pakistan 👏👏👏
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket)
