Asia Cup 2023: 5 Conclusions from India vs Pakistan Super 4s, 3rd ODI

KL Rahul and Agha Salman. (Photo Source: ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

The much-awaited clash of the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s stage between India and Pakistan which was played over two days on September 10 and 11 saw the Men in Blue registering a thumping 228-run win over their arch-rivals.

India had posted a mammoth 356/2 in 50 overs with Virat Kohli scoring 122* and adding an unbeaten 233 runs for the third wicket with KL Rahul, who also scored 111*. Earlier, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had scored fifties and added 121 runs for the opening wicket.

This was a perfect batting performance from the Indian side as the total was way beyond Pakistan’s reach, especially at a venue where 300 had never been chased down.

However, the Pakistan batting crumbled against a brilliant pace bowling showing by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj upfront and then Kuldeep Yadav swooped in with 5/25 as Pakistan was restricted to 128 runs with two of their players absent hurt.

India won the game by 228 runs their biggest win over Pakistan ever in ODIs.

While the match was entertaining for fans of one country, it also raised some questions and gave answers to some burning queries as well.

Here are the 5 conclusions from the India vs. Pakistan Super 4s encounter:

1. Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss

Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam in Asia Cup. (Photo Source: SURJEET YADAV/AFP via Getty Images)

Babar Azam’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved to be costly for his team. The decision was mostly influenced by the rain prediction as the DLS method and scores were expected to come into play, which gives the team batting second a huge advantage.

Babar also would have thought that they had restricted India to 266 when they last played in Pallekele in the Asia Cup and expected his bowlers to do the same here. However, the pitch was different and the atmosphere was different. 

Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill took on Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf early on and neutralized the threat of early wickets in their 121-run partnership. 

It is safe to say that Azam’s decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly. 

2. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli’s strategy to take on the Pakistan bowlers on Reserve Day proved to be fruitful

KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)

KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were the two overnight not-out batters when India resumed their innings on reserve day and they both came out with a strategy. 

Pakistan were without Haris Rauf, who suffered a side strain and then Naseem Shah also hurt his shoulder. This meant Kohli and Rahul could see off a few overs at the start and then hit big. And that is what the two veteran batters did.

They kept the tempo up throughout the remaining 26 or so overs they had in hand and once the last 10 overs began, both plundered runs at will as India scored 209 runs in the last 26 odd overs as India posted a mammoth 356/2 on the board.

 

3. Babar Azam handing the ball to part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed in the death overs

Babar Azam with Iftikhar Ahmed. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Many would say Pakistan was handicapped with Haris Rauf not being able to bowl due to injury and then Naseem Shah was also injured. This meant that captain Babar Azam had to reply on the part-time spin of Iftikhar Ahmed. 

Despite having Salman Ali Agha in the XI, Babar gave the ball to Iftikhar Ahmed, who had to bowl in death overs and was taken for runs at will. Ahmed gave 52 runs in 5.2. If that was not enough, his main spinner Shadab Khan went for 71 runs in his 10 overs, giving Babar no relief.

Many questioned why Babar handed Iftikhar the ball in death overs while Salman Ali Agha wasn’t even considered. This was a major gaffe on the part of the Pakistan captain, who looked clueless when Kohli and Rahul started plundering runs at will in the last 10 overs. 

4. Pakistan not utilising spin well, while Indian spinners were excellent

Shadab Khan vs India. (Photo Source: ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Another reason why the Pakistan bowling unit was plundered for 356 runs in 50 overs was how Babar Azam handled his spinners Shadab Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Iftikhar Ahmed. To start with, the decision to go with Faheem Ashraf as the all-rounder in place of Mohammad Nawaz was questionable. 

Nawaz had done well against India previously as well, but Babar Azam wanted to go with four pacers in the side. Shadab Khan was mauled by Rohit Sharma at the start itself which broke his confidence as the vice-captain went for 71 runs in 10 overs despite one maiden and picked one wicket.

Salman Ali Agha was not brought into attack by Babar, who instead handed the ball to Iftikhar in the death overs and he leaked 52 runs in 5.2 overs.

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma let loose Kuldeep Yadav on the Pakistan batters after Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, along with Shardul Thakur had softened the batters early on. Kuldeep shined and showed that he was the answer to the problem by spinning a web around the Pakistan batters.

Kuldeep ended with 5/25 in 8 overs with 33 dot balls to his name. Rohit Sharma should be praised for his use of his trump card. 

5. Rohit Sharma sending KL Rahul at 4 ahead of left-handed Ishan Kishan

KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter)

KL Rahul might have come to know that he was playing against Pakistan just 5 minutes before the toss happened, but he managed to take the opportunity and made the most of it. However, one thing that many ignored was the masterstroke that was by Rohit Sharma.

Rahul came out to bat at no.4 for India while many had expected Ishan Kishan to come to counter the Pakistani spinners. But Rahul, who has batted well at no.4 or lower in ODIs for the last 2 years or so, showed that even he could play the spin well.

Playing an international game after a long gap, Rahul stepped up with the team under pressure. He scored a brilliant century and was involved in a record stand with Virat Kohli. His 6th ODI ton was much needed and Rahul also kept wickets in Pakistan’s innings, showing that he was fit and raring to go for the World Cup.