India’s premiere pacer Mohammed Siraj outclassed Pakistan skipper Babar Azam during the India vs Pakistan clash in the World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. After winning the toss, Rohit Sharma led Team India and decided to bowl first. The Indian bowlers proved Rohit’s decision right as they managed to scalp three big wickets of Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, and Babar Azam inside 30 overs before they could do much damage.
Pakistan openers Shafique and Imam were looking good and also put together a 41-run stand for the opening wicket before Siraj dismissed Abdullah Shafique in the 8th over. Shafique returned to the changing room after scoring 20 runs off 24 balls.
Babar Azam then came in and joined hands with Imam, not allowing Indian bowlers to capitalise on the breakthrough. But then Hardik Pandya came up with a class act, taking Imam’s wicket. The left-hander batter departed after 36 runs off just 38 balls. After Imam's dismissal, Babar made a crucial 83-run partnership and revived the Pakistan innings from the early breakthroughs. Siraj then chipped in and took the wicket of Babar after he made 50 runs. It was a good length delivery by Siraj and that ended up skidding sharply towards Babar, hitting the top of the off stump.
Earlier, after winning the last two matches, the Pakistan team entered the field with an unchanged team while India added Shubman Gill after he was considered fully fit. Gill came in place of Ishan Kishan who played in the first two games for India. Gill did not take part in the first two games for India as he was down with dengue.
"Cannot get bigger than this, fantastic atmosphere," India's skipper Rohit Sharma said at the toss as the home crowd cheered.
"Sure lot of us are going to experience something really extraordinary", Rohit added.