India Dismantles Pakistan in T20 Showdown; Sehwag Calls it ‘Kambal Kuttai’

India secured a commanding 61-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their latest T20 encounter, maintaining an emphatic 8-1 head-to-head record in tournament history. The Men in Blue posted a competitive 175/7 before bundling the opposition out for 114, prompting celebratory reactions from cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.

Tendulkar: ‘India Rocked It’

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar identified the powerplay as the decisive period of the match. According to the former captain, India controlled the narrative from the onset despite early setbacks.

“The powerplay was where India took the game away from them,” Tendulkar stated on social media platform X. “Ishan Kishan in the first innings, and the clinical bowling we saw in the second innings, made all the difference. We were always in the driver’s seat. India rocked it tonight.”

The Ishan Kishan Counterattack

India’s innings began on a precarious note with Abhishek Sharma dismissed for a duck. However, Ishan Kishan seized the initiative, launching a blistering counter-offensive that altered the match dynamics immediately.

Kishan smashed 77 runs off just 40 balls, displaying aggression against the Pakistani pace attack. Following his dismissal, the middle order consolidated the innings:

• Suryakumar Yadav: 32 runs
• Shivam Dube: 27 runs
• Tilak Varma: 25 runs
• Rinku Singh: 11 runs (not out)

Pakistan’s Saim Ayub was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3/25, but lacked support from the other end as India finished on 175/7.

Bowling Unit Seals the Verdict

Defending the total, India’s bowling unit, led by Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel, dismantled the Pakistani top order. The relentless pressure reduced the chasing side to 34/4 within the powerplay, effectively ending the contest early.

While Usman Khan offered brief resistance with a fighting 44, spinner Varun Chakaravarthy and the pace attack cleaned up the tail. Pakistan collapsed to 114 all out in 18 overs, handing India a comprehensive win and a spot in the Super 8 stage.

Sehwag’s Unfiltered Analysis

Former opener Virender Sehwag, known for his candid commentary, described the match as a one-sided affair. He criticized Pakistan’s dated approach to the T20 format.

“Ishan Kishan played like a real Dhurandhar,” Sehwag posted. “Among all minnows Pakistan looked like the easiest to beat for Bharat because of their 17th-century approach to T-20 cricket, and they have taken a proper beating as usual. Full kambal kuttai.”

Match Statistical Summary

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