Home
The high-octane slugfest between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is yet again on display as both the sides are vying with each other in the Asia Cup's Super Fours' clash on Sunday (September 4).
Batting first India's opener Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul gave their side a fiery start as both of them displayed an outstanding batting show. Rohit and Rahul made the best use of Powerplay as both of them scored 28 runs each. With this they scripted a new T20I record as they leapfrogged Ireland's duo of Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien for the most number of 50-plus partnerships in the shortest format of the game at the international level.
Rohit and Rahul registered their 14th 50-plus stand in T20I cricket after decimating the Pakistan new-ball bowling attack in their Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match in Dubai.
Rohit and Rahul gave India a flying start after Babar Azam won the toss and opted to field in Dubai. Rohit began by hitting a boundary and a six against young Naseem Shah, who has been threatening with the new ball so far in Asia Cup.
Rohit made his intentions clear by dancing down the track and hitting the young fast bowler over the top of the in-field in the first over. The India captain 2 sixes and 3 boundaries for his 16-ball 28 while KL Rahul showed signs of finding his rhythm back with a quickfire 28 off 20 balls.
Rohit and Rahul added 54 runs in just 5 overs before Rohit Sharma departed in the 6th over bowled by Haris Rauf. KL Rahul, who struggled to get going against Hong Kong with a 36 from 39 balls, was proactive from the word go, hitting 2 sixes and a boundary for his 28-ball 20.
MOST 50-PLUS STANDS IN T20Is
Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul - 14 - 1319 runs
Kevin O'Brien, Paul Stirling - 13 - 1083 runs
Andy Balbirnie, Paul Stirling - 12 - 871 runs
Kyle Coetzer, Harry Munsey - 12 - 1042 runs
Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson - 12 - 1068 runs
The much-criticised top-order batters finally showed what they are capable of as India put up a stiff 181/7 against Pakistan.
Beside Rohit and Rahul, Virat Kohli (60 off 44) gave glimpses of his vintage self by playing one of his most sublime knocks in recent times to take India to a more than respectable total.
What everyone wanted from India's top-order was a change in mindset and the strike rates of 175 (Rohit), 140 (Rahul) and 136 (Kohli) were a testimony to that.
Kohli deserves the maximum credit for the total India achieved against Pakistan spinners, especially leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2/31 in 4 overs), who got important wickets of Rahul and Rishabh Pant (14).
