On September 11, 2023, Team India bagged their biggest ODI victory of 228 runs against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 match, played at the R. Premadasa Stadium. At the toss, Pakistan captain Babar Azam
emerged victorious and elected to bowl first. Team India openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stitched a 121-run stand off 100 deliveries and gave a blistering start to the Men in Blue. Rohit notched up 56 runs off 49 balls while Gill chipped in with his 54 off 52. Following the exceptional start, veterans Virat Kohli and KL Rahul walked into the middle and their responsibility was to utilise the fine start and take the team toward a massive score.
Both batters took Pakistan’s bowling attack to the cleaners and strengthenedIndia’s position in the contest. Rahul reached his sixth ODI century in 100 balls while Kohli brought his 47th ton in 84 deliveries. Both veterans stitched a 133-run stand together off just 193 balls. Kohli concluded his knock after hammering an unbeaten 122 off 94 while Rahul returned to the dugout with his unbeaten 111 off 106. Their sensational batting efforts helped Team India erect a colossal total of 356/2.
Pakistan’s batting attack capitulated on a low score while pursuing the target
Following the colossal target, Pakistan batters looked undisciplined which led their team to the humiliating loss. Jasprit Bumrah got rid of Imam-ul-Haq (nine off 18) in the fifth over and emboldened his team’s confidence. Babar Azam also played with a timid approach as he could score only nine off 10 and got dismissed against Hardik Pandya.
Mainstay batters Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, and Iftikhar Ahmed couldn’t put up a fight and lost their wickets against quality bowling. Kuldeep Yadav looked extraordinary for India and played a crucial role in bundling out the Men in Green for 128 in 32 overs. The leg-break bowler picked up 5/25 figures in his eight overs and emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the contest. Virat Kohli became the Player of the Match (POTM) in India’s humongous 228-run win against the arch-rivals.
