In the midst of the high-stakes 2023 World Cup, Pakistan's morale took a significant hit following their crushing loss to arch-rivals India. This pivotal match, which transpired on October 14, 2023, left a lasting impact on the Pakistani cricket team. Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, the dynamic duo from the Indian side, orchestrated a remarkable collapse of the Pakistani batting order by sharing four wickets between them. The outcome was Pakistan being held to a meager total of 191 runs in just 42.5 overs, despite the pitch being favorable to the batsmen.
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Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian team swiftly and convincingly chased down the target, accomplishing their most emphatic World Cup victory over Pakistan to date. The defeat triggered a chain of unfortunate events for Babar Azam's Pakistani side, as they endured a demoralizing four-game losing streak. This streak jeopardized their prospects of advancing to the semi-finals of the World Cup 2023.
However, the team's fortunes took a positive turn during their clash with Bangladesh in Kolkata, where Fakhar Zaman played a pivotal role by contributing 81 runs. This much-needed victory ended their winless streak and injected a glimmer of hope back into the squad.
Addressing the media at the post-match press conference, Fakhar Zaman candidly acknowledged the adverse impact of the India defeat on the team's morale. He stated that he would be dishonest if he denied the demoralizing effect of the loss. Nevertheless, Fakhar Zaman also expressed optimism, noting that Pakistan had initiated a resurgence, both with the bat and the ball.
"Of course, an India and Pakistan match is a very big deal. If I say it doesn't make a difference, I would be wrong. But all the players are professional and have played a lot of cricket. Even against India, they have played a lot of matches. So, you can't say anything like that. But I think if you look at our rhythm, we have made a comeback in batting and in bowling – like if you see in our previous match against South Africa. This is a combination," said Fakhar.
He voiced his hopes for an improved performance in their upcoming matches, reflecting a determination to bounce back from the setback and make a mark in the remainder of the tournament.
"I hope that you will see the same in this match and also in the next. I am part of this dressing room since the past 8 years, so I feel that the more we play, the more we will improve," the Pakistan opening batter added.
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