India vs Pakistan ICC World T20 highlights: Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina take India to 7-wicket win

India started their 2014 ICC World Twenty20 campaign against Pakistan with a 7-wicket in Mirpur on Friday. Catch all the highlights from the match, as it happened.  (Scorecard | Stats | Text Commentary | Match Report)

Post-match quotes:

 

MS Dhoni: "A few dropped catches, it would have been better if we could have taken them, apart from that it was a fantastic game. Rohit and Dhawan got us off to a good start and have wickets in hand. It is good to see Raina among the runs, with him around it gives us the firepower in the middle order. We will have to decide on the extra spinner based on how much dew is there, I think today Amit Mishra bowled 70-75 per cent of what he can bowl."

 

Pakistan skipper Mohd Hafeez: "The ball was not coming up nicely because of the dew factor. We were 20 runs short and we missed a few crucial catches. In a low scoring run, we required to do everything right. It is the first game but there is still a long way to go. Sohaib Maqsood has a natural talent to hit the ball. He is good at No.5 or No.6."

 

Man of the Match Amit Mishra, for his 2 for 22: "There was a bit of turn in the track there, whenever I get the chance I look to perform for the team. With the batting line-up we've got, it should be easy to get this target."

 

India comfortably win their opening match with 7 wickets in hand. Earlier, Amit Mishra did lead the spin attack restricting Pakistan to a below-par total. The chase was not expected to be very challenging and that is exactly what it turned out to be. India did lose three wickets but Kohli and Raina made sure that they romped home without too much fuss.

22:00 (IST) Suresh Raina finishes things off with a leg glance towards fine-leg and India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets with 9 balls to spare.

21:57 (IST) SIX! Raina nails this one alright! Short again on middle, Raina camps back and plunders it over mid-wicket for a biggie that levels the score, just 1 needed now.

21:54 (IST) Wristy 4 for Kohli this time! Served on a length on middle and leg, Kohli just whips it with his powerful wrists over mid-wicket for a boundary.

21:51 (IST) FOUR! A complete miscue from Raina! Short ball on off, Raina looks to pull over mid-wicket but the ball comes off the toe end of the bat and goes over cover for a boundary, 12 NEEDED OF 17.

21:47 (IST) Umar Gul bowls a mixture of short ones and length balls but Kohli and Raina are playing him out with ease, taking the ones and the twos, not taking any risks. India 114/3 (16), need 17 more from 24 balls.

21:40 (IST) Virat Kohli on the attack, hits Shahid Afridi for two fours in the 15th over. First goes down the track and hits him through deep extra cover, then plays it straight past the bowler and beats long-off. India 106/3 (15 overs), need 25 from 30 balls.

21:33 (IST) SIX! Short on middle from Hafeez, Kohli rocks back swiftly and just deposits it over mid-wicket.

21:28 (IST) Four! Tremendous timing from Rain this time! Stays back and just times it ever so sweetly past point for a lovely boundary.

21:23 (IST) WICKET! Bilawal Bhatti strikes on his first ball and Yuvraj Singh is castled for 1. India 65/3, need 66 more from 59.

21:19 (IST) WICKET! Rohit Sharma is played on and Saeed Ajmal strikes! Rohit goes way back in his crease to cut it, cramps himself for room and ends up dragging it back.

21:13 (IST) WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan's thrown it away! Backs away again, Gul drops it short and Dhawan goes for the hook compulsively, gets a top edge that is easily taken by Ajmal at fine leg. Dhawan made 30 off 28. India 54/1 (8 overs), need 77 more from 12 overs.

21:10 (IST) SIX! Rohit attacks Umar Gul and hammers him over long on for a huge six. India 47/0 (7.2 overs)

21:03 (IST) Easy pickings for Dhawan here! Makes room, Gul follows him down leg but Dhawan is too good to clip it past short fine leg. India 38/0 (6 overs), need 93 from 14 overs.

20:56 (IST) Shikhar Dhawan attacks Saeed Ajmal. Earlier after being all at see against the offie, he takes him on and hits three fours in the fifth over. India 31/0 (5 overs), chasing 131.

20:52 (IST) SIX! Rohit Sharma breaks the shackles! He was bogged down against the spinner but has decided to take Junaid apart, charges down and slaps over point for a biggie this time. India 19/0 (4 overs).

20:49 (IST) Lap shot for four by Rohit. The right-hander plays it off the length off Junaid Khan and the ball goes one bounce over fine-leg for four.

20:44 (IST) Close call for run out. NOT OUT! Dhawan chips down the track and bunts to mid on, sets for a single and makes his ground even as there is a bit of excitement with a direct hit. The umpire takes it upstairs but Dhawan was well in. India 5/0 (2 overs), chasing 131.

20:39 (IST) A quiet first over - three runs from it. Junaid Khan the left-arm quickie will bowl from the other end. India 3/0 (1 over), chasing 131.

20:35 (IST) Players make their way in the middle. Rohit Sharma will take first strike and Mohd Hafeez will open for Pakistan.

 

India have restricted Pakistan to a below-par total and look favourites to chase it down. Dhoni's decision to bowl first was spot on as the wicket gripped and turned causing all kinds of problems to the batsmen. Amit Mishra was the pick of the bowlers with a couple of wickets but the other spinners were good too. Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal were the only ones who could get a footing at the crease. A late cameo from Maqsood has given Pakistan something to bowl at but against this Indian side, that looks a very meager total. India should romp home here. Join us for the chase in a while.

20:23 (IST) Amit Mishra at innings break: "Bit of turn in the track there. Whenever I get the chance I look to perform for the team. With the batting line-up we've got, it should be easy to get this target."

20:18 (IST) 15 runs from the final over thanks to Sohaib Maqsood and Pakistan finish at 130 for 7.

20:13 (IST) WICKET! Bhuvneshwar strikes and Shahid Afridi goes for 8 off 10. Third catch for Raina! Afridi attempts a slog sweep from outside off, he only manages a top edge that goes down to Raina in the deep at square leg, he makes no mistake as usual. Bilawal Bhatti comes in as the next man. Pakistan 115/6 after 19 overs.

20:09 (IST) Excellent over from Shami, gives away two and gets a big wicket of Umar Akmal. Pakistan 104/5 (18 overs).

20:05 (IST) WICKET! Umar Akmal caught by Suresh Raina off Mohd Shami for 33. In the air and taken! A good length ball on middle, Akmal skies it high up in the air but only as far as Raina who settles under it and makes no mistake at long off.

20:01 (IST) Amit Mishra finishes a brilliant spell of bowling, 4 overs 2 for 18.

19:58 (IST) WICKET! Amit Mishra takes Shoaib Malik, who made 18 off 20 balls. Malik goes down the ground to clear long off, miscues it and Suresh Raina takes a simple catch at the boundary. Pakistan 100/4 after 16 overs.

19:55 (IST) Bhuvneshwar spills a sharp chance at deep square leg and whats more it goes for four. Malik cam down the track and went for a hoick, only for Bhuvneshwar to drop a sharp chance in the deep.

19:51 (IST) Umar and Malik playing it nicely here in the middle overs, taking the ones and the twos. Pakistan 89/3 (14 overs).

19:45 (IST) First SIX! Shoaib Malik dances down the track and hits Amit Mishra with the spin over deep long off. Pakistan 73/3 (11.3 overs).

19:43 (IST) Umar hits Yuvraj for another boundary, this time wide of the covers. A good over for Pakistan - 13 from it. Pakistan 63/3 (11 overs).

19:41 (IST) Misfield in the deep and Umar Akmal gets four. Akmal rocked back on that one from Yuvraj Singh and the deep mid-wicket fielder Bhuvneshwar fumbles and ball rolls away for four.

19:34 (IST) WICKET! Ahmed Shehzad is out stumped by Dhoni off Amit Mishra for 22 off 17. Pakistan 47/3 (8.2 overs)

19:30 (IST) WICKET! Mohd Hafeez falls for 15, caught by Bhuvneshwar off Ravindra Jadeja.

19:22 (IST) Next-ball, Ahmed Shehzad hits Shami for four through the covers. Pakistan 27/1 (5.2 overs).

19:21 (IST) Yuvraj drops Hafeez! Hafeez pulls Shami, mistimes it and Yuvraj fails to latch on to it, coming in from the from the deep.

19:14 (IST) Another four, Risk pays off for Ahmed Shehzad! Dances down the track and bunts it just over mid-on's head. Pakistan 15/1 (3 overs).

19:08 (IST) Next ball, almost another run out! New-man Mohd Hafeez clips it down leg side straight to the keeper, Shehzad wants the run this time but Hafeez sends him back, Shehzad has to turn back and ls lucky to survive as the throw from Dhoni misses the stumps st the bowler's end. Pakistan 9/1 (2 overs)

19:06 (IST) WICKET! Bhuvneshwar Kumar runs out Kamran Akmal early. A terrible mix up between the two and Akmal unfortunately has to pay the price with his wicket. Akmal shuffles across to whip it through the leg side but gets hit on the thigh pad, the ball goes to the off side and Akmal decides to go for the leg bye, Shehzad at the other end sends him back, too late though, Kumar collects the ball and shies at the striker's end, hits the bulls-eye and Akmal has to walk back.

19:01 (IST) First boundary of the match - Kamran Akmal gets a short of length one from Ashwin, who bowls from round the stumps and Akmal deposits it over backward square leg for four. Pakistan 4/0 (1 over)

18:58 (IST) Players make their way out in the middle. R Ashwin to open the bowling. Kamran Akmal on strike.

18:52 (IST) FACTOID: India pacer Mohammad Shami will make his T20 international debut today.

Watching India vs Pakistan #worldT20 always a good contest .......good toss to win n bowl first !

- zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) March 21, 2014

 

18:40 (IST) Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami.

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal(w), Mohammad Hafeez(c), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan.

18:37 (IST) Mohd Hafeez at toss: "We don't really believe in history and we are looking to change a couple of things tonight. I think it's a good pitch, the boys are looking forward to do well. Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad will open the batting. We wan't to give a chance to whoever is in good nick. Whenever we play against India, it's an electrifying atmosphere and we are looking forward to do well."

18:35 (IST) MS Dhoni at the toss: "I think it's the traditional rivalry that has unfolded. During the days of Javed Miandad, Salim Malik and Aaqib Javed, the rivalry was fierce, but it's good to see that the hostility has gone down a bit. Each international game gives you confidence. We are playing with an extra-spinner in this game. Can't really bank on the dew factor. We have got variety in the bowling department. The wicket looks a little soft, but a good one."

18:30 (IST) Time for the toss and MS Dhoni calls it correctly. INDIA are BOWLING. News is that Amit Mishra is in the eleven as the third spinner. Mishra took 2 for 28 in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan.

18:25 (IST) Pitch report: Ravi Shastri says, "This wicket looks like an absolute beauty. It is nice and hard. This means that the ball will come onto the bat. 150-160 will be a good total here. The dew factor will come into play and that will reflect in the toss. A win the toss bat first wicket."

 

With just over an hour to go for the toss, here is a look at the 'Zing thing' of ICC World Twenty20 - the zing wicket system. Read here. The most delightful of dismissals to watch for an average cricket fan is when a batsman is clean bowled or when a direct hit by a leaping fielder dislodges the stumps. In the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh, an extra 'Zing' will be added to such thrilling moments.

The new Zing Wicket System will see the stumps literally light up with bright red LEDs as soon as the wickets are broken. A sensor in the bails will send a radio signal within 1/1000 of a second even with the slightest impact. However, each bail is precious and costs as much as an iPhone, which means players will not be allowed to take away the stumps and bails as souvenirs after winning a match.

 

Match Preview:

India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 tournament opener in Mirpur on Friday, which promises to be a great match for cricket fans across the world. (Pics: India, Pakistan train for the big fight)

Battered and bruised in the first quarter of 2014, India will aim to take fresh guard when they open their World Twenty20 campaign against Pakistan.

While form favours Pakistan even though they were battered by South Africa in a warm-up game last evening, history would be on India's side as they have never lost to their arch-rivals on all three meetings of the previous editions of the World T20 tournament. (Read: Inzamam fears warm-up loss to South Africa could rattle Pakistan)

The Pakistan national team has played more T20 Internationals than its Indian counterparts, who last played an official T20 International against Australia in October last year. (Pakistan must play fearless cricket against India, say ex-captains)

There will be some great inner battles within the main contest. Shahid Afridi's pyrotechnics against Ravichandran Ashwin's variations, Umar Gul's pace against Virat Kohli's bravado, Saeed Ajmal's guile against Mahendra Singh Dhoni's flair. (Pakistan players upbeat ahead of tournament opener against India)

But then, cricket is a fickle game and India have not had a great run this year so far. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side has won only two official international matches this year having beaten Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the Asia Cup last month. (Read: Kohli, Raina set up 20-run win for India vs England in practice game)

They have lost to all major teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Even they lost to Sri Lanka in the first warm-up game before beating England convincingly by 20 runs in the final warm-up tie to somewhat redeem themselves.

While a victory acts as a morale booster after having inculcated the habit of losing, it would be a completely different ball-game when the 'Men In Blue' take the field against Mohammad Hafeez's men.

India will be a different side with MS Dhoni's return: Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakistan's Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul-Haq has warned his teammates to be wary of traditional rivals India, who he feels will be a different side after the return of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. (Read: Kohli, Raina set up 20-run win for India vs England in practice game)

"Dhoni is a big stabilising force for India and his return means that Pakistan will have to work much harder to get that win over India tomorrow," he said.

Misbah said it will be a completely new game irrespective of the fact that Pakistan had defeated India in the Asia Cup recently.

Trouble in Pakistan camp as captain, coach fight over selection

Trouble seems to be brewing in the Pakistan cricket team in the ongoing World Twenty20 Championships in Bangladesh with speculation rife of differences between skipper Mohammed Hafeez and the team management.

There are reports that Hafeez is not seeing eye to eye with the team management which includes head coach Moin Khan, cricket consultant Zaheer Abbas and manager Zakir Khan on a number of issues within the team specially on selection matters.

 

India strengthened by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh's return: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India skipper and NDTV expert Sunil Gavaskar feels Mahendra Singh Dhoni's return will boost India's chances in the ICC World Twenty20 championship. Dhoni had skipped the recently-held Asia Cup due to injury and the team was led by Virat Kohli.

Indian selectors also included T20 specialists Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina in the World Twenty20 squad. Both have shown signs of good form in the two warm-up matches India played in Bangladesh. "Dhoni's return will change India. Yuvraj and Raina are also back. It's a plus-plus for India after Asia Cup," Gavaskar told NDTV on Thursday.

India-Pakistan clash is no longer a 'war': Mahendra Singh Dhoni

For MS Dhoni, "playing in right spirit" is far more important than crossing the line while Mohammad Hafeez wants to maintain that there's more to the ICC World T20 than one particular match.

"Well, India versus Pakistan game will always be intense but I believe it has mellowed down over the years. Nowadays, you won't find altercations like it used to happen when the players of the last generation played," Dhoni replied asked about the waning popularity of clash between the arch-rivals.

"We used to get tensed watching those matches on TV when we were young. There used to be plenty of action happening apart from cricket. It's good it's not happening nowadays. You don't want to cross the line. If we want to promote the game in a right way, then we should play in right spirit," he said.