INDIA V PAKISTAN - 6th Time In CWC History

It was a sea of blue on one side of the Adelaide Oval while a sea of green on the other when India took on Pakistan in their first group stage match of Cricket World Cup 2015. India and Pakistan had met five times previously in World Cup with India winning all the five encounters. History was against Pakistan. However, every day is a new day, every game is a new game and when it is the World Cup stage, no team can take it easy.

The atmosphere was electric when Indian Captain MS Dhoni and Pakistani Captain Misbah-Ul-Haq walked out for the toss. MS tossed the coin, Misbah called "Heads". The coin showed "Tails". MS Dhoni elected to bat first. Emotions showed among all the players and onlookers alike as the National Anthems of both the countries were sung. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan opened the batting for India while the "Gentle Giant" Mohammad Irfan was entrusted with the new ball.

The Indian openers began cautiously. They watched the ball and played every ball to its merit. Rohit Sharma pulled a not-so-short ball by Sohail Khan which took the top-edge of his bat and Misbah ran from mid-off to complete an easy catch. Rohit departed for 15 of 20 balls. His innings included 2 hits to the fence. Shikhar Dhawan was then joined by Virat Kohli. India were 34-1.

Dhawan and Virat played with the same caution. Without taking any risks, the pair started to stitch a partnership. They continued to play every ball to its merit. Both Virat and Dhawan played a few sublime strokes which found the fence. They ran hard between the wickets to keep the scoreboard ticking. It was wonderful to watch these two batsmen play to their potential. Both the batsmen brought up their fifties. From an Indian point of view, it was heartening to watch Shikhar Dhawan return to form with this knock of his. Pakistan needed to break this partnership else the game would have slipped away very early from their grasp. The break came in the form a run-out. Kohli nudged a ball to the mid-wicket region. Dhawan took-off from the non-striker's end and was almost halfway down the pitch when he was sent back by Kohli. Misbah collected the ball and his direct hit dislodged the stumped at the non-striker's end. Dhawan's dive was a few inches short and he was given out by the third umpire. He walked back after scoring 73 of 76 balls. Pakistan had a window of opportunity. India were at a strong 163-2.

Kohli was now joined by Suresh Raina. Raina teed off straight away. He smashed the Pakistani bowlers  all round the park. Meanwhile, Kohli continued his cautious approach. He ran the twos hard and dispatched the bad balls to the fence. He brought up his 22nd ODI hundred with a single to mid-on. It was a different kind of a hundred from the bat of Virat Kohli. He played patiently and a very watchful innings. He was dropped twice in his innings, once in the deep early in his innings and once mid in his innings by Umar Akmal. However, every kudos to Virat Kohli for this particular innings of his. An India-Pakistan game in the World Cup. It never gets bigger than this. Kohli fell for 107 when he was caught behind by Umar Akmal of Sohail Khan's bowling. India were now 273-3. Raina was joined by captain Dhoni. India were set for a total close to 320-330. Raina continued his carnage and brought up his fifty in quick time. Raina was however caught by Haris Sohail of Sohail Khan's bowling. He scored 74 of 56 balls and his knock included 5 Fours and 3 Sixes. Captain MS Dhoni struck a few lusty blows before being caught by Misbah of Sohail Khan's bowling for 18. None of the Indian batsmen thereafter could stay in the middle. Jadeja was bowled by Riaz for 3 while Rahane too lost his bails of Sohail Khan's bowling for naught. India ended up with exactly 300 Runs for the loss of 7 Wickets in their 50 Overs. Sohail Khan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5 for 55 in his 10 Overs. India ended up 20-25 runs short. The momentum was with Pakistan. The crowd was going nowhere as an exciting second session was lined up.

Pakistani openers Ahmed Shehzad and Younis Khan had the onus of providing them with a solid start. A platform was necessary if Pakistan was to chase down 301 in the World Cup opener. However, a bouncer by Shami took Younis Khan by surprise. He gloved it and MS Dhoni completed an easy catch. Pakistan did not want this kind of start. They were 11-1. Shehzad was joined by Haris Sohail. They decided to play it safe like the Indians did.
Very cautiously the Pakistani scorecard moved ahead. If Pakistan managed a score close to 190 in 35 Overs with at least 5-6 wickets in hand, it would have been a good launching platform for Shahid Afridi. With this in mind perhaps, Shehzad and Sohail took the innings forward. However, Ravichandran Ashwin's first maiden put pressure on the Pakistanis. Sohail nicked an Ashwin ball and Raina completed an easy catch in the first slip. He departed for 36 of 48 balls. Pakistan were now 79-2. 
Shehzad was joined by captain Misbah. MS Dhoni got back Umesh Yadav for his second spell. Umesh bowled fast and struck. Not once but twice in a span of three balls. The well set Shehzad was caught by Jadeja at point for a hard-fought 47 of 73 balls. Sohaib Maqsood fell for naught as he was caught by Raina of Umesh's bowling in the same over. In the very next over, Umar Akmal fell. He feather-nicked a Jadeja ball to MS Dhoni. Umpire Kettlebrough gave it Not-Out. MSD reviewed it and the snicko showed a faint edge. The decision was overruled and Akmal was given out. Pakistan were now reeling at 103-5. Shahid Afridi walked out to join his captain. It was not an ideal setting for Afridi, but they had to resurrect the innings. 
Afridi started off in his usual smashing fashion, while Misbah continued trying to re-build the innings. Pakistan took the Batting Powerplay in the 33rd over. Perhaps, an ideal time for Afridi to launch. However, Afridi fell in the second over of the Powerplay. He mistimed one and ball took to the skies. Kohli completed a good catch running backwards. The Indian fans were ecstatic. The dangerous Afridi was gone for 22. The Pakistani fans fell silent in the crowd. Pakistan were 149-6 with still 151 runs away from their target.
Misbah-Ul-Haq stood on one side as he watched the others lose their wickets. After Wahab Riaz's departure, Misbah was joined by Yasir Shah. Misbah played attacking Cricket and continued playing his shots. He played some amazing shots on both sides of the wickets. He brought up his fighting half century. But he was only delaying the inevitable. He was caught by Rahane of Shami's bowling in the 46th over on 76. He scored his 76 of 84 balls smashing 9 Fours and 1 Six. Sohail Khan was dismissed soon in the last ball of the 47th over when he was caught by Yadav of Mohit Sharma's bowling. Pakistan's innings folded up for 224 in 47 Overs. As it has so often happened in the past, Misbah was left fighting at one end while the other batsmen came and went. 
India beat Pakistan by 76 runs. Virat Kohli was declared as the Player of the Match for his outstanding 107. As he said in the post match presentation that Adelaide Oval was his favorite ground and he wished that could wrap it up and take it home. India maintained their winning streak against Pakistan in World Cup Cricket.

India and Pakistan have always been arch-rivals on the field. World Cricket has been a witness to some exciting encounters between India and Pakistan. But what is important that this rivalry should remain on the field and not off the field. It always is good to be competitive. But competition should only be on the cricket ground. Every individual from both India and Pakistan should try and inculcate a feeling of fraternity for their neighbor nation. This shall definitely pave the way for a future where both India and Pakistan co-exist with peace and harmony.