India started their 2017 ICC Champions Trophy campaign on a winning note as they got the better of Pakistan by 124 runs (via D/L/S method) at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Sunday.
Here’s what we learned from the match.
ROHIT-DHAWAN FIRM’S BACK IN BUSINESS
Before the Indians trooped out at Edgbaston, there was a bit of concern regarding their opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.
Both experienced players, their build-up to the tournament had not been encouraging, owing to indifferent form and fitness issues. But they put all that behind with a commendable alliance of 136 runs in 24.3 overs.
A redeeming feature of the partnership was the manner in which they cut out the flamboyance and played risk-free cricket besides complimenting each other really well.
They waited for the bad balls and capitalised on it fully whenever it came their way but otherwise they were content in rotating the strike and collecting the singles and twos.
The return to form of their openers gives a fresh dose of confidence to an already strong Indian batting line-up that was in full flow at Edgbaston.
PANDYA IS INDEED AN X-FACTOR
Ever since he made an impact in the 2015 Indian Premier League with his all-round skills for Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya has taken giant strides to grab a spot in India’s limited-overs teams ahead of more experienced players.
He is renowned for his big hits, can work up a decent pace and is a very good fielder as well, attributes that are mandatory for the shorter formats. Experts reckon that he can be quite useful in English conditions with his medium-pace.
The all-rounder proved all that in big measure on Sunday when he smashed three consecutive sixes off Imad Wasim in the final over to take India past the 300-run mark. He then hustled the Pakistan batsmen with his short deliveries, claiming two wickets for 43 runs from his eight overs.
Hardik Pandya was impressive with both bat and ball for India [Getty Images]
YOUNG LEGGIE SHOWS PROMISE
The 18-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan had made the cricketing world take notice of his talent when he logged sensational figures of 4-0-7-3 on his Twenty20 International debut against West Indies earlier this year.
The Champions Trophy is his initiation into big time cricket and on the evidence of his first game on Sunday, it can be safely said that he looks good for the big stage.
He mixed up his wrong ‘uns well, with a faster one getting appreciation from spin legend Shane Warne, who was on air when he was bowling to the Indian openers. His googlies caused some concern especially to Virat Kohli, who failed to pick it properly.
Although he was hit for two sixes, the teenager, who is from the small town of Mianwali where Pakistan cricket’s two famous captains — Imran Khan and Misbah-ul Haq — come from, continued unfazed to end up with decent bowling figures of 10-0-52-1.
DEALING WITH THE RAIN
When in England, you have to deal with the fickle weather but repeated rain interruptions can frustrate the best of captains, batsmen, bowlers and fielders alike.
At Edgbaston, rain stopped play multiple times, resulting in the loss of 11 overs and the target for Pakistan being revised twice. The Indians batted under overcast conditions throughout but when Pakistan batted there was bright sunshine.
The Indian batsmen did a fine job of adjusting to the repeated breaks and so did the Pakistanis to an extent but the same cannot be said about the fielders from both sides. They were sloppy dropping four catches, missing run-out opportunities and leaking a lot of runs.
The outcome of the match suggests the missed chances hurt Pakistan more than India but it could well have been the other way as well.
Hosts England have a head start over the rest as they are used to playing in such conditions but other teams will have to pencil in the weather in their plans if they have to come good.