ICC Champions Trophy- India defeat Pakistan by 124 runs
India started their ICC Champions Trophy 2017 campaign in style after registering a 124 run victory over arch rivals Pakistan. The target for Pakistan was reduced to 289 runs from 41 overs after rain interrupted the play. India bowled out Pakistan for mere 164 runs, with Umesh Yadav picking up three wickets. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets each.
Pakistan won the toss against India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and decided to bowl first. During the toss, Kohli said that batting first would be an advantage as the nice and hard pitch would stay even throughout. This is one of the most awaited matches of this year.
As far as Champions Trophy is concerned, India and Pakistan have opposite results in the tournament. While India have won most games (15 off 24), Pakistan have lost most of them (11 off 18).
India's pace attack against Pakistan will be in the hands of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. While Hardik Pandya is the only all-rounder in the team, Ravindra Jadeja has been picked up ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin as a spinner. Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhwan, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Kedar Jadhav are the six batsmen in the team.
Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed (Capt. & Wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali
Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on 136 runs together for the first wicket, before Dhawan departed on 68 after 24.3 overs. They are the first pair to share three century partnerships in the Champions Trophy. Virat Kohli came to bat after Dhawan departed. With an average of 107.66, Kohli has the best numbers against Pakistan in the ICC tournaments.
Rain played a spoilsport for the second time to halt the game between India and Pakistan. India have scored 173 runs in 33.1 overs, with Rohit Sharma (77) and Virat Kohli (24) on the crease.
Virat Kohli (81*) and Yuvraj Singh (53) put on a 93-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take India to 319/3 after the rain reduced the game to 48-overs a side. Rohit Sharma played a 91-run innings, before Hardik Pandya put on a six-ball-20-run cameo. Pakistan have to chase 324 runs as 5 runs were added in the target as per Duckworth-Lewis method.
