05 June,2017 09:25 AM IST | Birmingham | Santosh Suri
Virat Kohli & Co beat arch-rivals Pakistan by 124 runs to open Champions Trophy campaign in style despite rain interruptions at Edgbaston
India not only braved the elements but also gave a commanding performance in a high-voltage match to subdue Pakistan by 124 runs at Edgbaston yesterday. They had the worst of the elements as their innings was twice interrupted by rain, batting mostly in gloomy conditions. And while bowling the sun was out, making it perfect for batting.
Yet, the defending champions did not allow their rivals to make hay while the sun shone. In trying conditions after being put in, India batted like the champion team with all the batsmen making significant contributions, none more than skipper Virat Kohli whose run-a-ball 81 was the cornerstone of India's 319-3 in 48 overs.
After Pakistan's chase was also interrupted by rain, their target was revised to 289 in 41 overs, which proved beyond their reach as they kept on losing wickets regularly.
None of the Pakistan batsmen could get going, barring Azhar Ali, who got a half century. They could not recover from the brilliant run out effected by Ravindra Jadeja to send back dangerman Shoaib Malik.
India thereafter kept on tightening the screws to make the match hopelessly one-sided. Umesh Yadav was the pick of bowlers with three scalps while Pandya and Jadeja had two apiece.
There were a lot of positives for India. The foremost was Rohit Sharma's return to form. He controlled the innings at the top despite struggling initially. He richly deserved a century but was unfortunately run out as his bat though over the crease was not grounded. He looked on way to another of his big knocks till misfortune struck.
India's Ravindra Jadeja is congratulated by his skipper Virat Kohli (right) after running out Pakistan's Shoaib Malik during the ICC Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston yesterday. Pic/Bipin Patel
Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan (68 from 65 balls) calmed India's initial nerves with a solid partnership of 136. That set the stage for the subsequent batsmen to plunder the bowling. Yuvraj Singh (53 from 32), Kohli and Hardik Pandya (20 from just six balls with three successive sixes in final over by Imad Wasim) ensured India cross the 300-mark.
It was neither Rohit nor Kohli who was adjudged man of the match. That honour went to Yuvraj, who did not play in the two warm-up games because of viral fever. The way he batted today, just did not show that he had lost it touch or was rusty. His blitzkrieg turned the tide in India's favour.
"The openers gave us a good start and it gave me the opportunity to go and attack. You just have to go and back yourself, and tell the opposition that you're here to attack. I was lucky I was dropped, but I capitalised and I was hitting it well. I finished well, the dashing southpaw said after the match.
"India-Pakistan is always a big game, and I think it has set us up really well. Hopefully we'll take this confidence into the next game against Sri Lanka."
With all the Indian batsmen striking form it augurs well for them as they brace for their other two league games at the Oval in London - on Thursday against Sri Lanka and on Sunday against South Africa. They will have to win one of the games to ensure a berth in the semifinals.
