Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted that they were 10-15 runs short of a par score after losing their opening Asia Cup match against India by five wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The Men in Green were skittled out for a below-par score of 147 runs after Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the prize wicket of Babar Azam with a well-directed bouncer and then Avesh Khan dismissed Fakhar Zaman, who decided to walk off. Indian bowlers peppered the Pakistan batters with short-pitched deliveries and Hardik Pandya made the most of the conditions as there was an extra bounce on the surface.
Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could not string a partnership. Pandya scalped three wickets in his four overs quota as he bowled above 140 kmph consistently. Furthermore, Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned with 4-24 in his quota of four overs, which is the best bowling figure for any Indian bowler against Pakistan in the T20I format.
Mohammad Razwan top-scored with 43 runs for Pakistan while Shahnawaz Dahani added the finishing touches.
On the other hand, Pakistan got off to a fine start in their bowling innings as Naseem Shah struck on the second ball on his debut to send back KL Rahul. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja scored 35 runs each while Hardik Pandya added the finishing touches in a tight finish.
Babar Azam said in the post-match presentation, “The way we started (with the ball), was great. We were about 10-15 runs short. Bowlers did really well to make a match of this. Our tail did step up a bit to add those handy runs. Thought was to take the game deep (and hold back Nawaz’s last over). Idea was to create pressure but Hardik finished well. He (Naseem) is a very young bowler but bowled so well, and showed so much aggression.”
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja also played a crucial role in India’s win as he scored 35 runs. Jadeja added a crucial alliance of 52 runs with Hardik Pandya to get India close to the target.
Jadeja said after the game, “Thank you very much. We wanted to play till the end, they have a very good bowling attack, their fast bowlers don’t give anything away. I could have finished the game – left-arm spinner against left-hander, but Hardik played superbly. He (Pandya) came out and said he was going to play his shots, and happy that he stayed till the end.”
India will next face Hong Kong at the same venue on Wednesday.
