World Cup 2019: 4 Factors that helped India make it 7-0 against Pakistan at World Cups
The most anticipated clash of the World Cup, India vs Pakistan, took place at Old Trafford in Manchester, amidst highly uncertain climatic conditions. The clash between the two sides, coming with a rich sporting history and a tinge of socio-cultural flavor to it was hugely anticipated. India has been better at handling this pressure, and history repeated itself in Manchester, as India handed another crushing defeat to Pakistan in the marquee event, winning the match by 89 runs in a rain-curtailed encounter.
India were invited to bat first by Pakistani captain Sarfaraz Ahmed on winning the toss. However, this turned out to be a blunder as India piled up a mammoth score of 336/5 in their 50 overs. Rohit Sharma played yet another gem of a knock, as he scored another big hundred - 140 off just 113 balls. Supporting knocks by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul ensured that India recorded its highest World Cup total against the archrivals. The bowlers, in turn, executed the plans to perfection, as Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya took 2-wickets apiece.
Here are the major factors that enabled Team India to outclass Pakistan for the seventh time in the World Cup:
#1 The Surprise Package of All-Rounders
Team India boasts of four all-rounders in the squad, namely Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja, who provide great stability to the side. On the given day, it was Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar who were at the helm of things for the two-time World Champions.
India carried the momentum of a high total in their bowling, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah gave a controlled start to the innings. However, a hamstring injury to Bhuvi in his third over came as a rude shock to the team. It was then that captain Kohli fell back on the balance of the team, handing over the ball to Vijay Shankar. The latter vindicated his captain's trust, as he became the first Indian to pick up a wicket on the first ball in a World Cup, trapping Imam ul-Haq.
He kept hitting the right areas and kept the pressure mounting on the Pakistani batsmen with his economical bowling. Shankar further justified his credentials as an all-rounder, as he cleaned up Pakistani captain Sarfaraz Ahmed in his second spell.
Indian plans were also helped greatly by their premium all-rounder Hardik Pandya. After chipping in with a useful cameo of 26 runs, the 25-year old derailed the chase of the Men in Green, as he sent back their two most experienced players, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik in consecutive deliveries.
The way in which Shankar and Pandya, who are not known much for their bowling, rose up to the occasion, and stepped into the shoes of the premier pacer speaks volumes of their skill sets.
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