Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned why India vs Pakistan matches are called rivalry after the former registered a comprehensive 61-run win against the latter at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Sunday.
After this convincing win, India now has a 8-1 win-loss record against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. India posted a par score of 175 runs on the board on a tricky wicket after they were put into bat by Salman Ali Agha.
In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 114, thereby suffering a huge loss. Indian opener Ishan Kishan was the star of the show, scoring a majestic knock of 77 runs off just 40 balls.
“Will this still be called a rivalry? It has become 8-1. It’s become a one-sided contest. If there is a cricketing synonym of dhobi pachad, it will be this. It’s the same analogy. You (Pakistan) won the toss, Ishan Kishan came after that, hit you a lot, Rinku Singh finished in the end, India shone with the ball, and won by 61 runs,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra added that fans’ emotional involvement in India-Pakistan matches makes it a rivalry and not the quality of the Pakistan team.
“This is India’s biggest win in T20Is based on runs against Pakistan. So is this still a rivalry? The rivalry is not because of how the opposing team is? It’s because whoever is there in India is emotionally attached to this match, and the historical heartbeats increase slightly, but on the ground, it’s one-sided,” he observed.
The renowned commentator questioned Salman Agha’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss.
“Pakistan, what do you do? What is your thought process? How did you decide to bowl after winning the toss? It’s the first time in T20I history that a team used six spinners. You had half a dozen spinners, and despite that, you chose to bowl first after winning the toss,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer said Pakistan had a slim chance of winning if they had posted 150 runs on the board after batting first.
“I said the one-percent chance of Pakistan winning was to win the toss, bat first, score 150, and put pressure on India as you have spinners. Pakistan said it’s an invalid concern. Pakistan said they would win the toss, but do what you want. Then you will get what you want. India won,” Chopra observed.
India will next take on the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
