It is not often that India vs Pakistan fails to deliver and yet again the cricketing world witnessed a thrilling encounter between the two teams. Cometh the hour, cometh the man - Virat Kohli, India's most effective run chaser, once again clawed the game back in his grasp after a poor start to set up one of the most riveting finishes to an India-Pakistan encounter.
Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya took three wickets each with the ball to disrupt the Pakistan batters in the first innings. However, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shan Masood kept their wits and managed to accelerate at the right moments to guide Pakistan to 159/8.
The run chase began on an underwhelming note for Team India today, losing four wickets inside the first 10 overs, courtesy of impressive bowling by Pakistan. Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli steadied the Indian innings before setting off on an incredible run chase. The 113-run partnership, headlined by Virat Kohli's heroics, was the key behind the last-over victory.
"We started well in our bowling, and then all credit to Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli. It's not easy with the new ball, with a little bit of swing and seam. We had a chance, and we just asked the boys to believe in themselves, but again credit to Virat Kohli," said Babar Azam, Pakistan's captain.
Rohit Sharma, pleased with the Indian win, credited Virat Kohli for his performance, "It's good for our confidence to get off the mark in our first game, and the way we won is more pleasing for us, the way we came back. Hats off to Virat. It has to go off as not one of his best, but the best innings he has played for India."
India seal last-ball victory against Pakistan
Virat Kohli scripted a run chase for the history books, scoring 82 runs off 53 balls, ensuring India chased down a stiff target against Pakistan after early troubles in the run chase.
Ravichandran Ashwin stroked the ball over mid-off to score the winning runs for the Indian cricket team. Hardik Pandya was also instrumental in the run chase, accumulating 40 runs from 37 balls.
Kohli took on Haris Rauf in the penultimate over and helped India cross the finishing line after a roller-coaster of a final over.
Match result: India 160/6 beat Pakistan 159/8 by four wickets.
Kohli goes big against Afridi
Virat Kohli took a liking to Shaheen Afridi in the 18th over of the run chase, scoring 17 runs to keep Team India in the hunt. Haris Rauf bowled an economical 17th over to tilt the balance in favour of the Pakistan cricket team.
India need 31 runs in the final two overs to seal their first win of the T20 World Cup 2022.
Score: India 129/4 after 18 overs (Target - 160)
Kohli, Hardik key heading into the final four
The Indian cricket team crossed the 100-run mark, thanks to an unbeaten partnership of 76 runs between Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya. India need to score at 13.50 runs per over in the final four overs to chase down Pakistan's total of 159.
Score: India 106/4 after 16 overs (Target - 160).
Indian batters counter-attack Pakistan
Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya smashed 20 runs in the 12th over of the innings against Mohammad Nawaz to begin an onslaught against the spinners. Hardik also smashed a boundary of the previous over against Shadab Khan before tonking two sixes against Nawaz.
India also scored nine runs in the 13th over against Shaheen Afridi. Kohli and Hardik accumulated 42 runs in the last 24 balls.
Score: India 83/4 after 13 overs (Target - 160).
Axar Patel run out after mix up with Virat Kohli
Axar Patel looked to steal a single after knocking the ball towards the edge of the circle but was sent back by Virat Kohli. However, the Indian all-rounder was unable to get back to his crease, despite fumbles by Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, which cost him his wicket.
Virat Kohli is joined at the crease by Hardik Pandya. The Indian cricket team need to score upwards of 10 runs per over with only a couple more recognized batters left in the dugout.
Score: India 41/4 after 9 overs (Target - 160)
Pakistan dominate in the powerplay
Following the early wickets of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, Haris Rauf added another feather to Pakistan's cap in the powerplay with the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav.
After being hit for a boundary, Rauf came back with a ripping back of a length delivery with the extra pace and bounce getting the better of Suryakumar.
Score: India 31/3 after 6 overs (Target - 160).
Haris Rauf adds to India's worry, dismisses Rohit Sharma
India's troubles at the top of the order against Pakistan continued as Rohit Sharma was caught in the slips off the bowling of Haris Rauf.
Rohit Sharma averages only 14.25 against Pakistan in T20Is, scoring only 114 runs in 11 matches.
Score: India 17/2 after 4 overs (Target - 160).
KL Rahul continues to struggle against Pakistan
Keeping the debacle against Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi in the previous T20 World Cup in mind, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul adopted a cautious approach. However, Naseem Shah was the reason for KL Rahul's downfall in the second over of the innings, with an inside edge onto the stumps.
Score: India 7/1 after 2 overs (Target - 160).
KL Rahul vs Pakistan: Innings - 4, Runs - 35, Average - 8.75.
"Wanted to enjoy the moment" - Arshdeep Singh
Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh made his ICC Men's T20 World Cup debut in today's game against Pakistan. He picked up the wicket of Babar Azam on his first delivery, while also taking the wicket of World no. 1 T20I batter, Mohammad Rizwan. The wicket of Asif Ali in his second spell meant three wickets on his maiden T20 World Cup appearance.
"I just wanted to enjoy the moment. I guess it'll never come again, so I just wanted to enjoy myself and have fun. We wanted to make use of the long square boundaries, so the plan was to hit the wickets and the pads. I guess we'll do our best and chase this down," said Arshdeep Singh.
Pakistan recover to score 159
After a quickfire start by the Indian pacers, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shan Masood's fifties helped Pakistan reach a respectable total of 159. Shaheen Afridi also contributed with a late cameo with the bat. India will have to chase 160 runs to avoid back-to-back T20 World Cup defeats against Pakistan.
Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh, the T20 World Cup debutant, took three wickets each for the Indian team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami also scalped a wicket.
Score: Pakistan 159/8 after 20 overs.
Shaheen Afridi rampant in the penultimate over
Shaheen Afridi smashed 14 runs off the 19th over against Arshdeep Singh to take Pakistan closer to the 150-run mark. Meanwhile, Shan Masood also crafted his way to a half-century.
How many will Pakistan score in the final over?
Score: Pakistan 149/7 after 19 overs.
Rohit Sharma breaks MS Dhoni's record
The Indian cricket team captain, Rohit Sharma broke former captain MS Dhoni's record of 33 matches in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. With 34 games played, Rohit has now played the most games for India in the tournament.
Yuvraj Singh (31) and Suresh Raina (26) are next on the list of the most appearances for India in the T20 World Cup.
Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali put Pakistan on the backfoot
Hardik Pandya once again came to the fore with the ball to take the wicket of Mohammad Nawaz, ensuring more pressure on the Pakistan batters heading into the death overs. It was Hardik's third wicket of the day.
Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh came back into the attack to bowl his third over and was instantly rewarded with a wicket, stunning Asif Ali with a quick bouncer.
Score: Pakistan 125/7 after 17 overs.
Hardik Pandya ends Shadab Khan's short stay
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya added to the wickets tally, getting the wickets of Shadab Khan and Haider Ali, to disrupt Pakistan's recovery with back-to-back wickets.
Both, Shadab and Haider, were dismissed while trying to attack Hardik Pandya's bouncers and failing to clear the boundary ropes.
Score: Pakistan 106/5 after 15 overs.
Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed after onslaught against spin
Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed took on the Indian spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, for four sixes in two overs to switch the momentum towards Pakistan.
In the process, Iftikhar completed his fifty off 32 balls. However, Mohammed Shami, who was brought back into the attack by Rohit Sharma, ended Iftikhar's stay at the crease, trapping him LBW.
Score: Pakistan 96/3 after 13 overs.
Pakistan rebuild after poor powerplay
Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed help Pakistan recover after losing the openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, in the powerplay. Masood and Iftikhar scored 45 runs off 36 balls after the wicket of Rizwan.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardik Pandya, bowling in tandem, have managed to restrict the free-flowing Pakistan batters so far today.
Score: Pakistan 60/2 after 10 overs.
Shan Masood survives Mohammad Shami's bouncer
The Pakistan no. 3 batter, Shan Masood top-edged a bouncer from Mohammad Shami towards deep fine leg. Ravichandran Ashwin claimed to have taken the catch and the umpire gave the soft signal as out, only to realize after the live replays that the ball fell just short. Masood survives!
Score: Pakistan 44/2 after 8 overs.
Pakistan openers fail to replicate the success of 2021
IND vs PAK, 2021 T20 World Cup
Mohammad Rizwan: 79*
Babar Azam: 68*
IND vs PAK, 2022 T20 World Cup
Mohammad Rizwan: 4
Babar Azam: 0
Shan Masood gives Pakistan hope towards the end of the powerplay
Shan Masood stroked a couple of fine boundaries against Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami as Pakistan crossed the 30-run mark by the end of the powerplay. Iftikhar Ahmed also got his innings going with a boundary.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled three overs in the powerplay for India, while Arshdeep Singh bowled two.
Score: Pakistan 32/2 after 6 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan's wicket leaves Pakistan reeling
Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh took his second wicket of the game, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan in the fourth over of the innings. Rizwan attempted to hook a sharp bouncer by Arshdeep for a six but was caught at deep fine leg.
Score: Pakistan 15/2 after 4 overs.
Arshdeep Singh scalps Babar Azam for a golden duck
Following an impressive first over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, which troubled Mohammad Rizwan, Arshdeep Singh struck on his very first delivery to get rid of Babar Azam. The Pakistan captain was adjudged LBW to be dismissed for a golden duck, courtesy of a full in-swinging delivery.
Virat Kohli also had an opportunity to run out Shan Masood, but the former Indian captain failed to hit the stumps.
Score: Pakistan 10/1 after 3 overs.
India vs Pakistan playing XIs
India playing XI: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.
Pakistan playing XI: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
India vs Pakistan toss update
Rohit Sharma wins the toss and India elect to field first in the fourth Super 12 match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch report
The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is well-suited for the pacers. The ball comes on nicely onto the bat which aids the batters to score quickly. Despite the long boundaries, spinners do not have much of an impact at the MCG.
In the 15 matches previously played at the MCG, the team batting second has won on nine occasions.
The highest total registered here in T20Is is by India, who scored 184/3 against Australia in 2016. The Indian cricket team were bowled out for 74 runs in 2010, which is the lowest total to date at the venue.
Melbourne Cricket Ground weather update
The weather in Melbourne has improved over the last 24 hours. The weather forecast initially suggested consistent rain infringements during the India vs Pakistan clash. However, recent reports from the Australian MET department suggest no more than a 20 per cent chance of rain.
No rain has been reported since Saturday morning.
India vs Pakistan head-to-head record
India and Pakistan created history by becoming the first two teams to reach the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final in the inaugural edition in 2007.
India have had the upper hand against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, winning five of the six matches between the two sides. Pakistan enjoyed success in the most recent match between the two sides, winning by 10 wickets in the 2021 edition of the tournament.
Overall in 11 T20Is between the two arch-rivals, India have won eight matches while Pakistan have won thrice.
Welcome to SportsAdda's live blog of the T20 World Cup
India and Pakistan gear up for their blockbuster opening match at the T20 World Cup 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia. The match is scheduled to start live at 1:30 PM IST.
Both India and Pakistan have won the T20 World Cup once each. The Indian cricket team triumphed at the inaugural edition in 2007 and Pakistan lifted the trophy in 2009.
Join us for live updates from the India vs Pakistan clash. Toss is scheduled at 1:00 PM IST.
The India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 match will be telecast live on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 and their respective HD TV channels in India.
Live streaming of India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2022 match will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.
Featured image: MARTIN KEEP / AFP
