Asia Cup 2022

While Azam and Zaman fell in power-play during their Asia Cup Group A match against India, Rizwan tried to up the ante, but ramped a short ball straight to third man off Hardik Pandya, with Pakistan eventually making 147 in 19.5 overs. With them not having much experience in the middle-order, the bulk of the scoring responsibility comes on the trio, who haven't been at their effective best while batting first, as seen from Pakistan losing three matches while batting first post featuring in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Hardik Pandya's all-round show helped India defeat Pakistan by five wickets. Virat Kohli, who was returning from a month-long break, also contributed with a well made 35 off 34 balls. The star batter lauded the team's effort following the win over Pakistan. "Special win on a special day," he captioned the post on the Koo app.

With left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant left out of the eleven as India chose to stick to Dinesh Karthik's finishing abilities, it meant that the top six batters were all right-handed. After Rohit Sharma fell at the end of the eighth over, Jadeja was surprisingly promoted to four and batted till the final over, making 35 runs in 29 balls.

From there, Pandya (33 not out off 17 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (35) shared a stand of 52 runs off just 29 balls. Even though the left-handed Jadeja fell in the final over off left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, Pandya finished off things in style with a flat six over long-on. to take India over the line and add another thrilling chapter in the history of India-Pakistan clashes.

The star of the day for India was all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who displayed some brilliant cricket -- both with bat and ball. After taking three wickets with the ball, Pandya played a crucial knock as he scored an unbeaten 33 off just 17 balls smashing four fours and one six.

Just like Pakistan, India had an eventful first over. Debutant pacer Naseem Shah struck on just his second T20I ball, as K.L Rahul inside-edged to his stumps. Virat Kohli, playing in his 100th T20I, was dropped by Fakhar Zaman at second slip while chasing a wide one. Kohli was nervous in his start as many inside and outside edges came off his bat.

While Pandya got India vital breakthroughs with his short balls to pick 3-25 in his four overs, Bhuvneshwar was excellent in starting and death overs to take 4-26 as India used the bounce well offered by the pitch. With left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh taking rest of two wickets, it also marked the first instance of Indian seamers taking all ten wickets in a T20I match.

It is also the first meeting between India and Pakistan after facing off in the Men's T20 World Cup last year in the UAE, where Pakistan secured a resounding 10-wicket victory over India in the Super 10 stage, their first such victory in Men's World Cups. "All set and we've prepared well. It is a special game (against Pakistan) but as players, we have to focus on it as any other game and focus on the things we control," said Pandya in a pre-match chat with broadcasters.

Greeted by a huge roar from fans in a near full-house after winning the toss, Sharma further said they have picked Dinesh Karthik over Rishabh Pant for the last batting slot in the playing eleven. It means that India have chosen their designated finisher over the left-handedness provided by Pant. "It was a tough call we had to take between playing Dinesh and Rishabh, Rishabh sadly misses out. And Avesh makes it as the third seamer," said Rohit.

Pakistan pace sensation Shaheen Shah Afridi was ruled out of the Asia Cup last week after the pacer had suffered a right knee ligament injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Aakash Chopra on the Koo app said Pakistan has been pushed back by the dent and India can even win the match if the side loses the toss.