Image Source- AFP
Two years after Pakistan’s flawless day, India and
Pakistan square off once more. However, in a competition where whining and rain
have been commonplace, these aren’t days like those. Babar Azam again wins the
toss and elects to bat first, but that’s where the parallels end. A few minutes
after he finishes speaking, the clouds part to reveal a watery sun; this isn’t
even the same day Pakistan had a week before, which encourages the Pakistan
captain to put India in. And so an ODI begins, one that was so terrible that it
made the initial letter of the acronym unnecessary in its attempt to haunt
Pakistan for the next two days.
Although it is tempting to bowl first against India in
this format when facing the most captivating attack in the world, Pakistan has
chosen to do so three times in a row and each time has suffered a crushing
defeat. India triumphed by 89 and 124 runs the last two times, which occurred
at the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup. Despite Pakistan’s
excitement regarding its ability to keep India to a manageable 267 last week in
Pallekelle, it is important to remember that they have never won the toss and
managed a successful chase of more than 250 against this opposition.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is dismissed for six runs in the
first over by Rohit Shrma, but Naseem draws a chance off Shubman Gill’s first
delivery with an aerial cut that Afridi might have made with a more forceful
lunge. The following ball has an inside edge that sails beyond the stumps for
four. Naseem puts down a maiden and then hits Gill’s edge, while Afridi
abruptly loses his swing and is bullied off the longer length. The keeper,
first slip, and second slip all attempt to catch it but simultaneously let it go.
India seems to have discovered how to neutralise a top-notch fast-bowling
attack with the flick of a switch.
It has been regularly questioned whether Pakistan’s
middle-overs strategy is sound, not least since India won the game against spin
in their previous meeting. While the genius of Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan
was mostly responsible for that, Shadab Khan assists them this time. He seems
to only be able to find long hops and full tosses as India increases their lead
in one of his least impressive ODI performances. The Colombo rains eventually
do as they had threatened to all week, descended with a force so strong even
the Sri Lankan groundstaff had to concede defeat. He does manage to get the
wicket of Rohit before Afridi deceives Gill.
Pakistan now returns for the second round of the
beating they had so valiantly negotiated themselves. Afridi had already left
the pitch due to an injury before returning, but Haris Rauf’s side strain made
him the bigger worry. Although Pakistan doesn’t require an invitation to mess
up their middle innings, they now have to deal with Iftikhar Ahmed throwing at
least five pitches. Before winter set in, India pounced on him as if he were
their last meal, hogging the runs and tearing him to pieces.
The death overs start, with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul
both having scored hundreds. Of course, they remained undefeated because the
idea of a wicket falling at this stage was preposterous. Not just because the
sun has set, but also because the heavens are dark. After 28 hours of Babar
electing to bowl first, Jasprit Bumrah is at the mark as the clouds begin to
gather. Mohammad Siraj and Bumrah were practically unplayable because to the
swing and seam they produced. And while Pakistan has embraced what they have
coined the “Pakistan Way,” a fearless strategy that has served them
well over the previous month, India’s supremacy and a horrifying two days have
shrunk them back into the traditional restraints they have worked so hard to
escape.
They had no chance of escaping due to the weather, and
Pakistan actually made no attempt to hit the target. The middle order of
Pakistan has struggled against worse teams, and they weren’t going to find
their rhythm again when facing this charming Indian squad. India easily defeats
a squad that is disintegrating in front of their eyes, cruising to a triumph
that will go down in history.
It is unlikely that Naseem and Rauf will appear again
in this tournament, thus Pakistan will work to get them back to full health.
Maybe doing a 12-day trip from Hambantota to Colombo, Colombo to Multan, Multan
to Lahore, Lahore to Multan, Multan to Colombo, Pallekele to Colombo, Colombo
to Lahore, and Colombo to Colombo all in 12 days isn’t the best way to keep
young men performing at the edge of their athletic ability at full
fitness.
Or perhaps, there will be days like this.