India saw off a weak Pakistan side for the second time in 4 days and, as a result, booked their place for the Asia Cup finals in style. The men in blue were directed to bowl first after losing the toss. Being in a rich vein of form, the bowlers were successful in restricting Pakistan to a score of 237/7. Jasprit Bumrah led the wickets charts, with figures of 2-29.
Thereafter, it was all Rohit-Shikhar show. The star duo had come under criticism for struggling to perform in England. But against Pakistan, they put up an opening partnership of 210 runs, thus rebuffing all the criticisms. It was a record Indian opening stand (in the chase), eclipsing the record of 201 runs previously set by Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag.
Furthermore, it is also the highest ODI partnership against Pakistan with an Indian side. They have been prolific for the better part of the tournament. Therefore, they now have become India’s second most successful opening ODI pair. The crushing defeat against India is one of the worst results in Pakistan cricket’s history.
Consequently, by the fortnight, Ind vs Pak was the most trending topic on Twitter.
Twitter reactions
Adnan Sami, now an Indian citizen, congratulated the (Indian) team for the victory.
SLAM!! Incredible Win Team India! Well done boys!!
Congratulations! 🇮🇳👏👏✌️#AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCup #INDvPAK— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) September 23, 2018
Virat Kohli, having been rested for the tournament, also congratulated the team for their triumph.
Well done boys. What a joy to watch.Great win for us. Onwards and upwards 💪🇮🇳 #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 23, 2018
Probably the biggest tweet came from the former Pakistan captain and the current PM, Imran Khan, who blamed at the capitulation of the Pakistani team.
As a sportsman I know winning & losing are part of the game but it's painful to watch Pak being thrashed by India without putting up a fight
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 4, 2017
Former Indian cricketer, Mohammad Kaif, commented on the meeting between Venkatesh Prasad and Aamer Sohail
Wow! This is epic @RedLabelChai. Never thought I’d see a Venkatesh Prasad and Aamer Sohail reunion on @StarSportsIndia. Amazing initiative! #SwadApnepanKa https://t.co/gn8JF8n0JR
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 23, 2018
Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar also expressed his satisfaction after watching Dhawan and Sharma score centuries.
Congratulations on your 100s @ImRo45 and @SDhawan25. Such clean hitting! Always a joy to watch you both in full flow. #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/yxzFEGtDak
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 23, 2018
VVS Laxman lauded India’s all-round performance
Congratulations India on another clinical performance .The bowlers were brilliant in restricting Pakistan to 237 and Shikhar and Rohit were just marvellous on the day. Top team effort #INDvPAK
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 23, 2018
Harsha Bhogle pointed out the improvement in the Indian bowling attack over the years.
While we glorify the batsmen, we must acknowledge that each of India's four key bowlers is better than he was 3-4 years ago
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 23, 2018
On the other hand, he was also critical of Pakistan’s promising but under delivering bowlers.
And while Pakistan have an outstanding production line of bowlers, they have a small shelf-life. Instead of getting better inherently good bowlers have been going downhill. Irfan, Junaid, Wahab, even Amir https://t.co/8KkdzqmglG
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 23, 2018
Noted Indian cricket expert, Aakash Chopra, also highlighted Pakistan’s poor bowling display.
#AsiaCup2018: Another #INDvPAK match and another dominant win for #India. This one puts them through to the Final. Courtesy a massive opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Can they now go all the way? #AakashVanihttps://t.co/VaI3FqtcRH pic.twitter.com/BwRiTQAeKC
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 24, 2018
Ayaz Memon of Cricketwallah praised the comeback of Shikhar Dhawan, after a poor display in the England tour prior to the tournament.
Must applaud at the way in which @SDhawan25 has lifted himself out of the disappointments in England to become India’s top runscorer in Asian Cup. Shows not willing to give up in his career easily
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 23, 2018
Likewise, it was not unnatural for the Indian cricket fans to boast of their teams crushing victory against their fiercest rivals on Twitter. Here are some of the hilarious posts:
Fans:
Just In : The run chase was easy as walk in park. We decided to give away 1 wicket to the kids else they would have cried the whole night that daddy thrashed us by 10 wickets, so, as Shikhar was tiring and he already reached his 100, gave his wicket away.
– Rohit Sharma #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/g3yPTr2nA8
— TIMES HOW (@TiimesHow) September 23, 2018
Yesterday
India Beat Pakistan By 8 Wickets
Today
India Beat Pakistan By 9 WicketsDear @ImranKhanPTI,
This Is What Happens
When You Send Small Teams To Big Tournaments#INDvPAK #PAKvIND— Mahesh Vikram Hegde 🇮🇳 (@mvmeet) September 23, 2018
Bollywood celebrity comes in rescue of Pakistani Team.. ???#PAKvIND #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/4pHdCaty5a
— Mr. 360' #TFZ (@Mr_360Abd) September 23, 2018
Meanwhile#INDVPAK #AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/sidzIpVyEY
— नयाKuttey Pakadne Waley Baba (@BhojpuriSupers1) September 23, 2018
Pakistani Filders today Match#INDvPAK 😂😆😆 pic.twitter.com/TmUmjYIzQK
— राjeev🇮🇳🚩 (@RajeevTiwariIND) September 23, 2018
Indian team should be ashamed of themselves. If you want to win, you must win but not like that. I mean you totally crushed the opposite team. How are thy going to sleep tonight? Human righs violation at highet level. UN should take notice.
— Mubeen Khan (@SirMK10) September 23, 2018
In contrast, some spirited Pakistani fans took the defeat light heartedly.
Indian team should be ashamed of themselves. If you want to win, you must win but not like that. I mean you totally crushed the opposite team. How are thy going to sleep tonight? Human righs violation at highet level. UN should take notice.
— Mubeen Khan (@SirMK10) September 23, 2018
Our captain hiding the toss coin to boost country's foreign exchange reserves. 😂😂 #INDvPAK #PakvIND pic.twitter.com/6K1iXMlSBl
— Asfand Yar (@AsFuU__) September 23, 2018
For all Pakistani cricket fans! ??#INDvPAK #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/dgboq16o7o
— Fareeha (@Real_Fari) September 23, 2018
Situation of Pakistani bowlers against india today..#INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/lTNEX13ILG
— Asad Zahid (@ExcuseMeApBhi) September 23, 2018
The Indian team next faces a spirited Afghanistan on Tuesday, before preparing for the finals that are scheduled to held on Friday. While on the other hand, Pakistan will take on Bangladesh.
