India showed its pedigree as it sank Pak in all departments in their Asia Cup match
It is never a simple cricket match when India and Pakistan play each other. It is a matter of pride, of humiliation, of life, of death, of copious tears of exhilaration and sorrow — basically everything that will be talked about forever in this world. In this Asia Cup, the first "rivalry" match was washed out; the second — spread over two days — teased and disappointed fans and spectators by turn but the world kept watching even the replays with bated breath, and emotions ran high. At the end of the epic battle — interestingly, in equal measure against the forces of nature as against the fabled Pakistan cricket's might — India's emphatic victory was a testament to the team's all-round performance, with each member contributing fully to it. In a game that smelled of team spirit right from the word go, both Shubhman Gill and Rohit Sharma complimented each other and scored over a half century each. While the senior opener was happy to keep the wickets secure, Shubhman went all over the park like a naughty child in Disneyland. The openers' wickets fell in quick succession a little later, and Virat Kohli and KL Rahul had barely started their innings when rain played spoilsport and halted the day's play after 24.1 overs.
On the reserve day, Kohli's contribution to the team's win was nothing short of extraordinary. It was also marked by his becoming the fastest player in the history of the game to reach 13,000 runs in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Kohli broke the record of his idol and maestro Sachin Tendulkar, which was set in 2004 in Rawalpindi against Pakistan. Kohli's ability to consistently score runs and anchor the innings is unparalleled and he showcased his genius again in the high-stakes match. He not only reached the milestone of 13,000 runs but did so with remarkable speed and panache, with a ton. At the other end, he was ably backed by KL Rahul, who was returning to the side after a six-month injury layoff and who scalped another century. Their innings were filled with elegant drives, deft flicks and powerful shots that sent the Pakistani bowlers scrambling. The 13,000-run milestone is not just a testament to Kohli's incredible talent but also to his unwavering commitment and consistency. The other notable thing was how the Indian bowlers fared: there were inswingers, outswingers, spin, pace, floaters, you name it! And those were bowled with such accuracy and stealth that the Pakistani batters, including the world's best Babar Azam, remained just tethered to their stumps and routinely took the walk back to the pavilion with bowed heads and hunched shoulders after being dismissed. However, the point to hit home is that if we have to fight Pakistan, let it be on a 22-yard pitch. Cricket binds us and has the power to unite us. Ultimately, the game won; the hawks stand defeated. So let us compete but not fight, win but without making the other feel small.
