The weather forecast in Pallekele for Saturday was supposed to be better. But it worsened as the evening progressed with rain going on to have the last laugh in this marquee game between India and Pakistan.
No overs were cut in spite of the two rain interruptions that held play up for 53 minutes in the first half. But the Pakistan reply, after India were all out for 266 in 48.5 overs, could never get underway owing to rain as the contest was finally abandoned at 9.52pm (IST).
With the two teams splitting points, Pakistan, having beaten Nepal, qualified for the super four-round of this Asia Cup.
Earlier, in seam-friendly conditions with most of the specialist batsmen back in the hut, India were in danger of being rolled over by Pakistan. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf had cleaned up India’s top four with only 66 on the board inside 15 overs.
But Ishan Kishan (82) and Hardik Pandya (87) put their hands up when their team desperately needed them to. Thanks to their big 138-run fifth-wicket partnership, India’s total could sport a competitive look.
That India couldn’t even play their full quota of 50 overs once the Kishan-Pandya partnership was broken further underlines the significance of their stand. Even after Kishan’s dismissal, with Ravindra Jadeja joining Pandya, it appeared as if India would comfortably go past 270. But once Pandya left, the remaining four wickets fell for just 27.
For sure, the Pakistanis lost the plot even after having India in dire straits. Their ground fielding was below par, spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz looked toothless and at the same time, Kishan and Pandya were allowed to take easy ones and twos that gradually eased the pressure off them.
Looking at the conditions, maybe Pakistan missed another seam-bowling option/all-rounder. But skipper Babar Azam clearly missed a trick in not bringing back either Shaheen or Naseem Shah during that phase of the game.
However, no credit can be taken away from Kishan and Pandya as they didn’t just have the huge task ahead of rebuilding India’s innings, but they had to battle enormous pressure as well.
Kishan, who would have been warming the bench had KL Rahul been fit and available for selection, showed signs of maturity as there was barely any rash or flashy stroke in his 81-ball knock.
What also helped the keeper-batter, who batted in the middle order for the very first time in his ODI career, was a calmer Pandya at the other end. While Kishan went for the odd shot, strike rotation was Pandya’s focus for a good part of their partnership.
Since IPL 2022, stability has been a key element of Pandya’s batting, which also aided Kishan to a great extent. Both batters looked set for three figures, but a tired shot off Rauf brought about Kishan’s departure in the 38th over.
That of Pandya though was much against the run of play. After three delightful boundaries off Rauf that took him closer to his maiden ODI hundred, a slower one from Shaheen got the better of Pandya as he holed out to cover.
India captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat first in conditions that were quite overcast was certainly debatable. But the Pakistan pace attack, led by Shaheen, was spot-on right from the onset.
Following the first of the two rain interruptions in the first half, Shaheen returned even sharper, making splendid use of the seam to knock over Rohit first. Virat Kohli has a problem outside the off-stump, so Shaheen maintained that line till the former dragged one back on to his stumps.
Comeback man Shreyas Iyer, at No.4, began solidly, only to see his firm pull off Rauf going straight to the short mid-wicket fielder’s hands. Rauf then ended Shubman Gill’s painstaking stay at the crease with one that shaped in just a little bit.
Shaheen had brought back the memories of India’s forgettable loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where the left-armer had removed Rohit and Rahul in the very first over of the contest.
Fortunately for India, they had Kishan and Pandya to stand up this time around.
