Would I be overstepping if I say that this was the best India vs Pakistan encounter ever? No, I won't be. What a match this turned out to be. A proper roller-coaster ride and what a way to kick off the T20 World Cup campaign for India.
On Kohli - What do I say? Am I even qualified? No adjectives can do justice to what we have just witnessed. Best ever innings from Virat Kohli? No doubt. India have won the match. Kohli has won it for them. Cometh the hour...cometh the man. If you witnessed this match in real-time, consider yourself lucky. You don't get to see this day in and day out. This has been historic.
This is it from our side. My hands are shivering, and I still have goosebumps from what we have just witnessed. Surreal to say the least. This is Kartik Mehindru, signing off.
Hardik Pandya too hasn't looked at his best so far. Pressure on Kohli. They need off the last over. Big game - can they do it? More importantly - Can Kohli do it?
Alright. Another tight over from Pakistan and it is getting increasingly difficult for India. There is one Nawaz over but how much can they take out of it? Afridi to bowl his last and the 18th over.
What an over from Rauf. Just 6 runs off it and the pressure is on Kohli and Pandya. Can these two eek out two 15-run overs?
India need runs 60 in the last five overs. Rauf has two more overs to go and Afridi too has one over in his kitty. I reckon they will bowl it one after the other now. Babar won't let it go till the end. Anyways, there's a lot left to be done. Can IND chase 160?
Well...well..well..Hardik and Kohli have combined to slam Mohammad Nawaz for 20 runs in the over. India getting the much-needed boost. Can they keep up the good work?
India, right now, is down in the dumps. The team needs Kohli's 'Virat' masterclass. Can he recreate the Mohali magic? No better time and place to do that than today.
Not where India wanted to be at the 10th over mark. Pakistan have sent back the top three players and Axar too fell to a run-out. Kohli and Hardik are at the crease. Both the batters have everything in them to steer Indian towards a win, but it will need a masterclass of a kind.
India are losing the plot here. Axar Patel is back after run-out, and it seems the pressure is getting the better of the Men in Blue. Pakistan is well and truly on top.
Hardik Pandya joins Virat Kohli in the middle and it is getting difficult for India now. The present duo of Pandya and Kohli will have to steer them till 15-16th over. Can they stage a turnaround?
Team india in trouble as Suryakumar too makes his way back to the hut.
Haris Rauf came into the attack and has sent the Indian captain back in the hut. India in some serious pressure here. Can SKY and Kohli get them out of it?
Well..Naseem Shah did what Shaheen Afridi couldn't. He has sent KL back in the hut. IND have lost an early wicket and Pakistan are off to a perfect start.
Well, both Rohit and Rahul were tentative with their footwork, but Afridi just couldn't get his lengths right. A poor start and I reckon Pakistan can't really afford to do that.
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma walk out. KL on strike. Afridi to start the attack for Pakistan. Here we go....
Alright, Pakistan, somehow, have reached to 159. Make no mistake about it, India will need to play pretty well to chase it. Pakistan will look for blood early with the new ball. Rohit and Rahul will need to set up a good platform.
Stay Tuned! Will be back with the chase.
Heading into the final 2 overs, Pakistan are 135/7. With Masood still at the crease, Pakistan would fancy another 20-25 runs. Can he get the job done?
Well..Hardik is again turning out to be the game changer here. Now he sends back Nawaz. Impactful spell this from the all-rounder. 4 overs, 30 runs, 3 wickets.
Pakistan are 106/5 after 15 overs. How much more can they get? I reckon they would want to finish on the right side of 150. That would give their bowlers a lot to work with. Don't forget, the Pakistan pacers too will get help from the new ball.
Well, he may have went for some runs, but here he is, scalping two wickets in an over to place India back on top. What a player!
Now Hardik joins the act. Shadab Khan wanted to maul the ball over long-on, but it only had height and no distance. SKY stationed himself and caught the ball.
Well, a lot happened really quickly. Ahmed took Axar to the cleaners, slammed 21 runs off the over and fell to Shami on the very next over. Nonetheless, he has given Pakistan a much needed boast. Can they continue the good work?
Well, one-half of Pakistan's innings is done and dusted. They have played run-a-ball and with both Masood and Ahmed set, they would look to make at least 90-100 more in the last 10 overs. Mind you, if Pakistan gets to 150-160, it will be equally difficult for India.
Arshdeep Singh has taken 2 wickets, but the other Indian bowlers have been right on the money. All of them have created enough pressure and Pakistan are starting to choke now. They are have reached 50 runs in 9 overs and would like to step on the accelerator quickly.
A bouncer from Shami nearly had Masood, but Ashwin made a meal out of a catch at fine leg.
The powerplay is done. Belonged to India. What a start for the men in blue. Babar and Rizwan are back in the hut and both Masood and Iftikhar have a massive responsibility. They have got a big job to do. Can they?
It was on everyone's mind. What if Babar and Rizwan fall early. Well guess what? We'll find that out today.
Well...well..well..Rizwan walks back and it is Arshdeep Singh again doing the damage. What a bowler. What a spell. What a start. Pakistan are down in the dumps.
India has built up tremendous pressure here. Arshdeep sent back Babar, and Pakistan have no clue what is going on. The ball is flying around, swinging and India are well and truly on top.
Agony for Pakistan. Babar is back for a golden duck. Arshdeep strikes him well on pads and he is a goner. Dream start for India.
What an over from Bhuvi. Class written all over it. Rizwan had no clue throughout. India off to a banger.
Bhuvi is delivering the ball with some real pace and bounce. The ball is literally flying around and it caught Rizwan's hand. Anyways.. we are ready to go again.
Babar and Rizwan are out for Pakistan. Rizwan on strike. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to start the attack for India. Here we go...
The teams are out for National Anthems. Stand up and soak it all. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Rohit won the toss and if it wasn't for Ravi Shastri and his famous voice, no one would have gotten the result of that toss. It is that loud in Melbourne. The stage is set. Fasten your seatbelts. It is going to be a wild...wild ride!
Pakistan Playing XI
Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
India Playing XI
Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Rohit Sharma has won the toss and India will bowl first
We are moments away from toss and whoever wins it, might want to bowl first. Let's see how it goes.
Well, was someone saying it was going to rain? The sun is out in Melbourne.
It goes without saying, but India will dearly miss the services of Jadeja and Bumrah. In Jadeja, India lost a handy 4-over-bowler, a gun fielder, and a potential number 4 left-hander in the middle order.
In Jasprit Bumrah, the team lost the head of its pace attack and one of the most fearsome bowlers in the Powerplay and at death.
But, what's past is past. The team shall be fully focused on the big game tonight.
Well, there are no surprises here. KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli will form the top order for India. Rahul has found his touch again, Kohli seems in form, and Rohit Sharma would want to make his experience count in the mega-encounter.
Suryakumar Yadav is in the form of his life. He will continue to come in at number 4. Hardik has made the number 5 spot his own and is in fine knick. Dinesh Karthik too is expected to pip Rishabh Pant for the number six spot.
Axar Patel, Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami should form India's bowling attack against Pakistan. Pandya should serve as the sixth bowling option if the need arises.
I certainly want to keep my mind open on playing eleven. We don't want to get stuck with one particular way of making the playing eleven. We want to be open about it. If we have to change one or two players in every game, we've got to be ready for it.
Ab main kya bolun. You will know on the day. T20 is a short format and anything can happen.
Shaheen is an attacking bowler and he likes to go for wickets.He pitches the ball up and backs himself to swing the ball. He can beat the batters in the air and off the pitch with his pace upfront. So with him, the strategy should be to play straight and within the 'V'.
Hello and Welcome to the biggest cricketing battle there ever was, and there ever will be. It's India vs Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia, and it doesn't get any bigger than this. Fasten your seatbelts - we are in for a grand ride.
I am Kartik Mehindru and I will be taking you through all the action from the mother of all battles. Let's begin!
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