ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Key takeaways from India’s big victory

ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Key takeaways from India’s big victory

KL Rahul’s key role
There were justified concerns about the opening combination following Shikhar Dhawan’s injury during the game against Australia. A broken thumb ruled him out for three weeks and KL Rahul, who had been making cameo appearances in the middle order, was pushed up to his natural role. He slotted right in. Under potentially thick cloud cover, the opening 10 overs became all the more crucial for India. Mohammad Amir came hot off the blocks, particularly eyeing Rahul whose adversaries against the new ball are well documented. He’s known to throw his wicket away against anything that deviates, failing to show the acumen needed to watch out the fast bowlers when he’s been elevated up the order. Rahul’s composed fifty and the 136-run opening stand with Sharma would have allayed some fears about Dhawan’s unavailability. He gave himself time to settle in and played his strokes once he got his eye in.

Pak’s awry fielding
Big games are often decided by smaller details. Pressure plays a huge role in such games and it seemed to have taken a toll on Pakistan’s already average fielding as they let go of as many as three run-out opportunities early on, a shocker being Fakhar Zaman’s throw to the wrong end while Rohit Sharma was half-way down the pitch at the other. Pakistan’s fielding cost it badly against Australia in its last-start loss in Taunton and the woes continued in Manchester. Sloppy ground fielding in the ring and on the boundary was again a feature of a lacklustre day in the field. This meant that India kept building comfortable partnerships as Pakistan desperately looked for wickets. Rohit cruised his way to 140 before getting a little too cheeky and guiding one straight down short fine leg’s throat. Even that didn’t really stall India’s innings as skipper Kohli held the fort at one end and the rest batted around him.

Kuldeep, Vijay shine
India received a massive blow as bowling spearhead Bhuvneshwar slipped on the footmarks and pulled up midway through his third over against Pakistan. He couldn’t take further part in the match after tightness in his left hamstring. Vijay Shankar, introduced into the attack to finish off Bhuvneshwar’s over trapped Imam-ul-Haq in front the very next delivery to land an early blow on the chase. Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya made their mark with the ball. Kuldeep had not yet hit his stride this World Cup. His performance against Pakistan, however, showed he is back to being his usual self. He got rid of both Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman; the two had put up a 104-run stand in the chase. Hardik Pandya too, portrayed a perfect all-rounder’s part and picked up key wickets of Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed. The gulf in quality between the Indian side and the Pakistani side is evident.

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