Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit unbeaten half-centuries as Pakistan recorded a thumping 10-wicket wi൩n over India in their opening game of T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday, Oct💎ober 24.
Chasing 152 for victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Paꦦkistan openers looked in supreme touch while Indian bowlers looked for a breakthrough throughout the innings.
Earlier, Indian captain Virat Kohli scored his 29th half-century in T20Is before being dismissed for 57 by Shaheen Afridi as the Men in Blue posted 151/7 on the board in their st✨ipulated overs.
Left-arm pacer Afridi removed Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in his first two overs before Hasan Ali rဣemoved Suryakumar Yadav to give Pakistan a great start in the powerplay overs.
Along with Kohli, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also played a handy knock of 39 from 32 deliveries. Pant lost his wicket in the 13th over, just when India started their counterattack. Next batsman Hardik Pandya failed to get going, and India 🅷just managed to surpass the psychological 150-run mark on a good batting wicket.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Masterclass of note! 👏😎🇵🇰
— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66)
Pakistan has changed history tonight! All the sta🐼ts have changed for good. Keep the winning streak and inshaAllah this world cup will be coming to Pakistan. Love u boys in green🇵🇰
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul)
Well done Team Pakistan 🇵🇰 MashaALLAH
i am so happy and excited for your extraordinary winning success.
What a knock
Well bowled
— Yasir Shah (@Shah64Y)
It wasn’t India’s ﷺday today. Am sure they will learn from their mistakes and come back stronger But I must compliment Pakistan for their Brilliant win . They were a better team today
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Finally the jinx is over winning against India in World Cups. What a thumping win by boys in ꩵgreen…
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive)
Congratulations to team Pakistan on winnin༺g the game. Team India will definitely come back bett⛦er and stronger!
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina)
What an absolutely stunning win fo𝔍r Pakistan. Just brilliant.
— Amy Lofthouse (@_amylofthouse)
What a way to end their World Cup jinx against India. Afridi struck the early blows to set up the game for Pakistan, and the openers left nothing to chance. Excellent batting from Babar & Rizwan. India have plenty of work ahead, but have the pedi𝓰gree to bounce back quickly.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Of course all of us are disappointed but let’s keep our hopes and heads high. The World Cup is far from over. Now is theꦗ time to regroup꧟ and bounce back!
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9)
Kya baat hai. MashAllah.
Chhaa gayay.— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph)
Nerves, pressure, excitement and enthusiasm
How Good is this 😍🏏,
Whatta game of Cricket 🇵🇰 💚vs 🇮🇳 💙 vs
Biggest game on Planet 🌎 💚💛— Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23)
Congratu🍒lations team Pakistan. Great moment for all the Pakistanis around the world. Enjoy the win. A wonderful start to the tournament. Hopefully we can continue like this.
— Junaid khan 83 (@JunaidkhanREAL)
Well played 💯! Yes we wanted to win, but ♉that’s the beauty about sports…it’s unpredictability
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha)
What a statement Pakistan just made in the Now favourites in my opinion after that emphatic win over India. Just a super all rou❀nd & impressive performꦏance. Babar Azam continues to enhance his reputation as one of the best batters in the world in all forms !!
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne)
Top notch stuff & . What a game 👏🏼 Nothing’s more joyous than a successful beginning to the World Cup campaign. Kee⛄p going team!🇵🇰
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki)
Rizwan MOM, crea꧅ted the momentum in the PP putting the pressure on the Indian bowlers.
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg)
Babar Azam has won all his 12 T20Is as a player in the UAE. Hits the winning runs. Played a captain's knock. What an effort from Rizwan: averages 100+ in T20Is in 2021. That's a startling fact
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Congrats Pakistan! After a turbulent few months and less than ideal preparation – an incredible performance to announce themselves in this tournament. India will be back but a big reality check for sure.
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
T🌃his is all class from Pakistan, what a partnership!!
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
Clinical rizwan and babar 👌 big ♔statement by Pakis💮tan 👏👏
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru)
Before Today
Pakistan never won a T20I game by 10 Wickets.
India never lost a T20I game by 10 Wickets.
Pakistan never won against India in World Cup.
Now all thrꦇee happened! Well Playe🌺d Pakistan 👏👏👏
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket)
