The greatest rivalry in international cricket returned on Sunday to enthrall the audience with another thrilling match. India and Pakistan, once again, faced each other in the second match of the Asia Cup 2022. The Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the ‘all-important’ toss and invited Pakistan to bat first in the epic clash. Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan walked out to the middle with the hope to replicate their magnificent partnership in last year’s 20-20 World Cup.
However, the Indian bowlers had also learnt their lesson and had their plans ready for the prolific opening pair. Bhuvneshwar Kumar drew first blood for India as he dismissed Pakistan Captain Babar Azam for ten runs. Pakistan tried to recover from the big setback but didn’t have many answers to India’s impeccable bowling.
Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed tried to hold the innings together as they added 45 runs for the third wicket. However, their partnership didn’t last long as they both were removed by Hardik Pandya, who looked determined to do well in the big match. Following their dismissals, the Pakistan batting collapsed and were reduced to 128/9 after 18.2 overs. Some late flourish in the end by Haris Rauf and Shahnawaz Dahani propelled Pakistan’s total to 147.
The Indian team lost the wicket of KL Rahul on the very second ball of the innings which brought Virat Kohli to the crease. Kohli played a sensible knock of 35 off 34 balls but was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz. The game looked getting out of India’s hands at 89/4 after 14.2 overs. But a valiant effort from Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja saw India home, winning the match by five wickets.
After Pakistan’s defeat, captain Babar Azam was heavily trolled for his poor show with the bat in the match. Some fans even criticized his on-field decisions as a captain as the defeat didn’t go down well with the die-hard supporters of Pakistan. Here’s how Twitter is trolling Babar Azam after Pakistan’s last night’s defeat:
babar azam and fakhar zaman in the dressing room pic.twitter.com/4MsMHetn6V
— vipin (@djfrankkie) August 28, 2022
Virat Kohli: Babar Azam is the best batsman of the world at present.
Babar Azam gets out on just 10 runs.
Masterstroke from Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma! ?
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) August 28, 2022
Lifetime peak babar azam
Out of form virat kohli pic.twitter.com/zt0uMFFTc0— time square ?? (@time__square) August 28, 2022
Babar Azam today pic.twitter.com/9aD8rMSFc3
— ksz (@KxmailSZ) August 28, 2022
This pass too shall @babarazam258 pic.twitter.com/PvLAWjoZT8
— _-ChEEmKachu (@sHubh_777777) August 29, 2022
Virat: Babar Azam is best batsman in world right now
Bhuvi:#INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/WJO4Xy1c5e
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) August 28, 2022
Pakistanis have to admit that Babar Azam only can perform against Zimbabwe and Netherlands ?#PCBJawabDo #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/Xzvszll4Js
— Bhupesh (@bhupesh_live) August 29, 2022
Yeah becoz don't appreciate glorified statpadders. Eben
Shreyas Iyer is better than Babar Azam and he's on bench.— Eren Kruger (@ErenKru139) August 29, 2022
Babar azam retirement ke badd #sasta #totla javed miadad ban kr rah jayega….dekh lena
— ?A . ???????? (@AAAKKKJJN) August 29, 2022
Bhai inhone Ronaldo aur Messi ko bhi nai choda
Compare karne se pehle sharam toh kar liya karo
Kidhar Ronaldo aur Messi aur kidhar yeh kal ka babar Azam? pic.twitter.com/pNvigUwkAX— Aksh Vaishnav (@Aksh6400) August 29, 2022
Babar Azam fans talking about Statpadding ? Aur haa Akele dum pe Pakistan ko kitni baar pela hai ye bhi dekh le bhai ??
— Vishal_Gill_?_??_Follow_4_FB_? (@43_53_99_allout) August 29, 2022
