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India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023: Kohli, Rahul and Kuldeep lead Men in Blue to a record 228-run win

Team India were at their clinical best and produced an all-round performance to thump Pakistan by 228 runs in a rain-marred Asia Cup Super Four encounter in Colombo on Monday.

Their 228-run win over the Men in Green was their biggest margin of win over Pakistan in ODIs, surpassing their 140-run win in Mirpur in 2008.

What started off as a highly-anticipated clash in Colombo on Sunday, ended up being a one-sided affair on Monday.

On Sunday, Babar Azam had won the toss and said that Pakistan had opted to bat. However, he would have regretted that decision later.

Shubman Gill’s form in ODIs had been fluctuating since IPL 2023 with Gujarat Titans (GT), but he finally seemed to have regained his rhythm with an aggressive knock of 58 from 52 deliveries, that included 10 fours.

He was involved in a 121-run opening stand with skipper Rohit Sharma, who brought up his 49th ODI fifty.

However, both openers were dismissed in quick succession after the century-plus stand and it was upto Virat Kohli and KL Rahul to take off from where they left off. Rahul was only in the India playing XI after Shreyas Iyer was ruled out of the game with a back spasm.

India were 147/2 from 24.1 overs when rain played spoilsport on Sunday and had to be later called off for the day.

However, with a reserve day in place just for this Super Four match, there was still hope for a result on Monday.

Kohli-Rahul onslaught

On Monday, Virat Kohli (122 not out) continued doing Virat Kohli things, while KL Rahul (111 not out), who was a last-minute inclusion in the playing XI after Iyer’s injury, announced his return to international cricket with a fine century.

Prior to this, the last competitive match that Rahul played was Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in May, the match where Rahul sustained a thigh injury while fielding.

However, it was like he never left, nailing those pull shots for boundaries while also mastering his cover drives.

Rahul eventually reached his fifty in 60 deliveries with five fours and a six, and he did not need as many deliveries to get to his century, reaching the milestone in exactly 100 deliveries.

Meanwhile, Kohli could have been out for 60 had Naseem Shah near the deep third man position been aware of the situation and taken the catch off Shaheen Afridi’s bowling. Kohli got an edge off the bat as the ball flew towards Naseem, but it eventually landed a few metres before Naseem, who did not seem committed enough to grab the opportunity.

In the 43rd over, Kohli would then go onto punish Iftikhar Ahmed. First, with a six that he flicked towards midwicket region, and later a four past the deep midwicket fielder.

However, the most productive over for Kohli came in the final over that was bowled by Faheem Ashraf.

Kohli had collected a boundary off the fifth ball of the over, with a paddle over the leg side, but Faheem had overstepped. Kohli then made use of the free-hit, slamming over cover point for a four, before finishing things with a six over long-on.

That led India to a mammoth total of 356/2, and if there was a way Pakistan could chase this down, it was up to their top and middle-order to do so.

Kuldeep Yadav five-fer

Pakistan may have been prepared to face the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, but they may not have seen a fiery Kuldeep Yadav coming.

Kuldeep finished with figures of 5/25, decimating the opposition by weaving his magic around the Pakistani batters.

Although the initial damage was done by Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep came into the act later on in the run chase, and ended up being the most effective bowler of the match.

Kuldeep was introduced in the 18th over of the chase, and struck in only his second over, cleaning up Fakhar Zaman with a well-flighted delivery.

Kuldeep struck again three overs later, trapping Agha Salman leg before in the 24th over, a decision that Salman reviewed but to no avail.

In just a matter of four overs, between the 28th and 32nd, Kuldeep went onto get rid of Shadab Khan, Iftikhar and Faheem, the last of which confirmed the end of Pakistan’s innings.

To add to their misery, Pakistan have been dealt with injury blows after Shah and Haris Rauf sustained niggles while fielding. The duo did not walk out to bat, and Pakistan’s innings ended following the fall of the eighth wicket, that of Faheem.

Kuldeep said his focus was bowling wicket-to-wicket.

“I have my plans when playing against the top sides. I have played against them (Pakistan) in 2019 and know their strengths, but I bowled to my strengths. I am focusing on bowling wicket to wicket, good sides try to sweep or slog sweep or sweep and give me a chance to get wickets,” said Kuldeep after the match.

India will not have time to rest as they face hosts Sri Lanka in their second Super Four game in Colombo on Tuesday.

Pakistan, meanwhile, will also face Sri Lanka two days later, on Thursday.



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