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India thrashed Pakistan by 7 wickets in their ICC 2023 ODI World Cup match at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.
This was India's eighth victory against Pakistan in ICC ODI World Cup.
Skipper Rohit Sharma starred with 86 off 63 balls and Shreyas Iyer scored a half-century.
Earlier,the visitors were bowled for 191 runs in 42.5 overs.
Led by Jasprit Bumrah, Indian bowlers rattled through the Pakistani line-up.
For Pakistan, skipper Babar Azam scored a half-century.
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India vs Pakistan Live Score, Live Cricket Score of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Today’s Match Live Updates: Yep, it's finally here. The big day of the India vs Pakistan ICC World Cup match and as the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad starts to fill up, we bring you all the latest from the arena, and beyond.
Toss is at 1:30pm IST! But before that, there's the musical show the BCCI has put together that starts at 1pm with performances from Arijit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh.
The team's been missing the services of key opener Shubman Gill in the first two matches, against Australia and Afghanistan, as he's been recovering from dengue but he joined the team in Ahmedabad on Thursday and was part of their training session on the eve of the game last night.
At the pre-match press conference, skipper Rohit Sharma said he's 99% likely to play the match. “99% he is available. We'll see tomorrow,” said the Indian skipper.
In the 7 ODI World Cup matches played between India and Pakistan, India lead the head-to-head by a cool 7-0, and Rohit Sharma's team will look to extend that streak today in Ahmedabad.
In ODI cricket history though, India and Pakistan have faced off 134 time with Pakistan ahead in that head-to-head 73-56.
On the eve of the game, Pakistan captain Babar Azam said he sees this game an opportunity for his team to make a mark on India-Pakistan cricket history
“To be honest - yes, the India-Pakistan match is a big game – it is a high intensity game. I've just told them to give us the best opportunity – give us whatever best you have, and do what you have been doing. That’s our belief as a player, as a team - we will execute our plans.”
“The main thing is to execute our plans and believe in ourselves. Ahmedabad is a big stadium and a lot of fans are coming. So, this is a golden opportunity for us to perform well in front of the fans and become heroes,” said Azam.
Ahmedabad: Fans cheer before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Ahmedabad: Fans cheer before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Ahmedabad: Fans cheer before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Ahmedabad: Fans cheer before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Ahmedabad: Fans cheer before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Ahmedabad: Fans cheer before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
The flip of the coin has gone India's way and Rohit Sharma has elected to bowl first in this big, big game against Pakistan.
And the big question - is Shubman Gill playing? Yes, he is! The opener returns to the Indian XI after missing the first two games while recovering from dengue. Ishan Kishan makes way for him in the line-up.
“Gill is back in place of Ishan, unfortunate for Ishan to miss out, feel for him, he stepped up when we needed him. Gill has been a special player for us over the past year or so, especially at this ground and we wanted him back,” said Rohit.
“It's a good track, not going to change much, dew could be a big factor and keeping that in mind, we want to bowl first. We want to keep striving for the best, we want to come out there and give our best in every game. Keeping the atmosphere in the team relaxed is the most important thing in a tournament like this,” he added.
Babar Azam says Pakistan are playing an unchanged XI.
“We were looking to field as well. We have had good two wins. Momentum is very high and we want to continue that. Jampacked stadium, we are enjoying our opportunity, and just want to enjoy. We have to be good in the field. We have had good practice sessions,” said the Pakistan captain.
Ahmedabad: India’s captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam during the toss before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Sharma won the toss and elected to field first in the match.
Ahmedabad: India’s captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam during the toss before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Sharma won the toss and elected to field first in the match.
Ahmedabad: India's Virat Kohli before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Ahmedabad: India's captain Rohit Sharma and teammate Virat Kohli before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Ahmedabad: Pakistan's captain Babar Azam before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
An emotional moment for both teams, and the fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, as the Pakistan and Indian national anthems are sung.
Next - time for play!
Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq walk out to open for Pakistan as India, as always, hand the ball to Jasprit Bumrah for the first over.
Shafique faced the first ball but it was only on the last delivery of the over that Pakistan opener its account. Shafique with a boundary.
Pakistan 4/0 after 1 over
First change for India once again is Siraj and facing him is Imam-ul-Haq who hits two boundaries off his first two touches off the bat.
The fourth also goes for a boundary, beating an outstretches mid-off’s left arm, and that’s 12 runs off the over.
Pakistan 16/0 after 2 overs
Second ball of the third over makes good connection with Shafique's bat on its way to first slip, but bounces short of Virat Kohli.
Bumrah keeps the over tight, conceding just 1 run.
Pakistan 17/0 after 3 overs
A maiden over from Bumrah in the fifth with Imam-ul-Haq facing him. It’s been impressive from the Ahmedabad native so far in this match. He’s bowled 3 overs and conceded just five runs so far.
Pakistan 23/0 after 5 overs
Siraj bowls a tight one in the sixth and concedes just the five runs but it seems it’s Bumrah’s turn to have the batters open their arms on his bowling. The seventh over goes for 9 runs with Abdullah and Imam both hitting him for boundaries - the first off his bowling after the first over. 9 runs from the 7th over.
Pakistan 37/0 after 7 overs
The crowd in the Ahmedabad cauldron roars and you know that’s a Pakistani wicket. Mohammed Siraj has got Abdullah Shafique out lbw. No need for DRS here as the umpire lifts his finger and Shafique walks off. Out on 20 off 24.
The wicket means it's time for Pakistan captain Babar Azam to come out in the middle.
Pakistan 41/1 after 8 overs
The over after the wicket Rohit Sharma brings in his first change and it’s another local boy - Hardik Pandya. He bowls a tight one but on the last delivery, Babar Azam hits him for a boundary and it’s 7 runs from the over.
Siraj then gets another go at Imam-ul-Haq, in the 10th over of the innings. Not much happening either for the bowler or batter and it’s just the one run conceded.
Pakistan 49/1 after 10 overs
Babar Azam sends Hardik Pandya for back-to-back boundaries in the 11th over and Rohit Sharma introduces spin. Kuldeep Yadav gets the ball for the 12th over, bowling to Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam.
Goes for 8 runs in the over.
Pakistan 68/1 after 12 overs
Hardik Pandya gets India the second wicket - Imam-ul-Haq edges to KL Rahul who safely accepts the ball in his gloves.
Imam out on 36 off 38.
Mohammad Rizwan joins his captain Babar Azam out in the middle.
Pakistan 73/2 after 12.3 overs
Jadeja has been introduced into the attack in the 14th over and has struck on his second delivery. A massive appeal and Richard Illingworth takes no time to raise his finger. But Rizwan sends the decision upstairs and the review shows the ball is missing the stumps. Sigh for Pakistan! Just run from the over.
Pakistan 75/2 after 14 overs
We are back from the drinks break. Hardik will continue with the ball. He has so far been expensive but also taken a wicket. After 5 dot balls, Rizwan collects a boundary to deep mid-wicket on his last delivery.
Pakistan 79/2 after 15 overs
Skipper Rohit Sharma has now brought Shardul Thakur in the attack and boundaries keep coming for Pakistan as the skipper welcomes him with a gorgeous straight drive. The commentator on air reckons, "every time India has pitches up the ball, Pak batters have made them pay for it."
Pakistan 90/2 after 17 overs
Jadeja begins his third over and the Pakistan batters continue to steal boundary. This time it's the wicketkeeper batter who collects one square of the wicket from the Jadeja over. Yet another boundary! Skipper Babar Azam is at work and how! A beautiful beautiful cover drive on display and he brings it up in Shardul Thakur's over.
Pakistan 102/2 after 19 overs
21 overs have gone by and both the Pakistan openers are back in the hut. Nevertheless, the batters on crease look in great touch. They are smashing boundaries, rotating strikes and running twos to keep adding runs to their account. 105 runs are up on the board!
Pakistan 105/2 after 21 overs
Rizwan scores a four in Jadeja's over. Woah! He follows it up with another one. Weather reports suggest it's hot in Ahmedabad and there are no chances of precipitation today but the Pakistan batters have ensured boundaries keep raining for the visitors. Meanwhile, Kuldeep has started with his third over and Rizwan has notched one in this over two. He's looking ominous now!
Pakistan 120/2 after 23 overs
The 50-run partnership has come from the Babar-Rizwan duo in 70 balls! Before it's too late, Rohit Sharma should re-introduce Bumrah into the attack to build some pressure!
Kuldeep Yadav takes the ball and has appealed for an LBW. Umpire Erasmus isn't convinced but the Indian skipper looks certain. They go upstairs! No inside edge and it's umpire's call!
Pakistan 125/2 after 25 overs
Still no signs of Bumrah! Jadeja is back and he concedes four runs off the 26th over. Kuldeep has the ball for his fifth and innings' 27th over. Two runs come off it!
Pakistan 131/2 after 27 overs
Finally! Pace is back into the attack as Siraj starts with his sixth over. And after a couple of quiet overs, Babar Azam manages to steal a boundary as the ball beats Hardik at short midwicket and races away to the ropes. Rizwan joins the party from the other end as he goes down the ground on the last Siraj delivery to collect four more runs!
Pakistan 144/2 after 28 overs
It was anticipated that we'd see Bumrah share the ball with fellow pacer Siraj now but Kuldeep continues with his 6th over. Babar Azam finds gap to send the full toss through covers to score a stunning boundary and with it brings up his fifty!
Siraj starts with the next over and is welcomed with a boundary to fine leg via Rizwan's bat! The batters are now switching gears and India would want to break this dangerous-looking partnership ASAP. Woah! Looks like Siraj received the message. He's bowled out the skipper just as he scored his half-century. What a comeback from the seamer!
Pakistan 156/3 after 30 overs
As we head into the second drinks break of the match, it will be difficult to say who which team will be the happier of the two after 31 overs. Mohammad Rizwan is approaching his half-century, but certainly, with Babar's dismissal, India are ready to strike with renewed vigour.
Pakistan – 157/3 in 31 overs.
Mohammed Siraj's plan against Saud Shakeel is pretty evident – bowl outside off and lure the southpaw into a shot. One of those deliveries nearly fetched the pacer an outside edge, but barring that, Shakeel has looked comfortable.
Pakistan – 162/3 in 32 overs.
TWO WICKETS!
Kuldeep Yadav has absolutely dented Pakistan's progress here with two wickets in the blink of an eye.
Saud Shakeel, who we had mentioned was looking comfortable against pace, has been outdone by spin. Kuldeep Yadav's delivery pitches on the leg stump and then straightens, striking Shakeel on the pads. The initial appeal was ignored by umpire Marais Erasmus, but India are third time lucky with DRS, as the replays showed three reds.
The next batter, Iftikhar Ahmad's stay was a very short one. Opening his account with a boundary, he tried to attempt a sweep but ended up dragging the ball into the stumps.
Pakistan – 166/5 after 33 overs.
MORE WICKETS!
You can call the term detrimental, but out of nowhere, Pakistan indeed have choked here. Babar's dismissal triggered a collapse, which has now resulted in Mohammad Rizwan's wicket. Failing to read a Jasprit Bumrah off-cutter, the wicketkeeper-batter saw his stumps getting dismantled while being just one run shy of a half-century.
Pakistan – 168/6 after 34 overs.
Another one bites the dust! Jasprit Bumrah has worked his magic yet again and bowled out Shadab Khan neck and crop! What a dismissal, this! A length delivery, outside off stump that Shadab looked to fend and the bails clipped! The batter looks shellshocked. Pakistan's crumbling!
Pakistan – 171/7 after 36 overs.
Any Indian who went to stock up their snacks must've come to a pleasant surprise, courtesy- Bumrah and Siraj! Hasan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz are currently holding the fort for the visitors.
Pakistan – 176/7 after 38 overs.
After those quick blows, Hasan Ali is taking on the bowlers to hit boundaries and keep the scoreboard ticking. Woah! Muhammad Nawaz is walking back towards the pavilion has the last Hardik Pandya delivery got the better of him. He's out caught by Bumrah at mid-on! What a collapse!
Pakistan – 187/8 after 40 overs.
Pakistan have lost yet another wicket with a blink of an eye! Hasan Ali gives a dolly to Shubman Gill and now it's only a matter of few minutes before we see the players walking back out of the ground to buckle up for the second innings.
Pakistan – 187/9 after 41 overs.
The crowd is on their feet and the bowlers right on money! Jadeja strikes and Haris Rauf is out LBW!!!
PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT AT 191 IN 42.5 OVERS!
"The wicket was a bit slow. We were focusing on the length. They were not attacking too much so I was just focusing on my pace and my variations. I was bowling very well. Not too much width because of the field restrictions. They weren't trying too much. Rizwan didn't sweep me a lot so I wanted to make him play the bad shot. I've been watching Saud Shakeel the last couple of games and he'd been trying to sweep a lot. He thought that ball was slow but it skidded on. Unbelievable to play in front of this crowd. This atmosphere is crazy, playing against Pakistan and seeing close to 90,000 people here." - Kuldeep Yadav
The run-chase begins! Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will open with the bat for India. Shaheen Afridi will start with the ball for the visitors!
Skipper faces the first ball and flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for the opening boundary. Takes a single on the next to give Shubman the strike and wow! The latter, too, slams a boundary. No respect from the Indian openers to Pakistan's finest whatsoever!
India – 10/0 after 1 over.
Hasan Ali will share the ball with Afridi. He starts with two dots and the third one is sent away for a gorgeous boundary to long-off from Shubman Gill's bat. Another one! Gill gets going and how! This a saga at the Narendra Modi Stadium that just keeps giving.
India – 22/0 after 2 overs.
Afridi is back for the third over. Oh my god! What just happened? Afridi has dismissed Gill in just the third over of the game. Gill looked to slam the Shaheen delivery for a boundary but it didn't get enough elevation and went straight into Shadab Khan's hands at backward point.
India – 23/1 after 3 overs.
Virat Kohli has walked in to bat at three against his favourite opponents. Meanwhile, skipper Rohit continues with the boundary showers. Smashes two fours in the second Hasan Ali over.
India – 31/1 after 4 overs.
Early loss of wicket but Indians have nothing to worry about for the target is very chaseable. Woah! A Virat Kohli cover-drive on display and the crowd erupts! The Narendra Modi stadium is echoing with "Kohli-Kohli" chants.
India – 38/1 after 5 overs.
Hasan Ali with his 3rd over and leaks just a run off of it.
India – 39/1 after 6 overs.
Afridi time again! Woah! Rohit pulls his short delivery to collect the first maximum of the day! The fans are witnessing the formidable Indian duo with their favourite shots on offer. Can it get any better than this? Oh dear god! Kohli celebrates with two back to back boundaries! Afridi is visibly disappointed!
India – 54/1 after 7 overs.
Third bowler Mohammad Nawaz has been introduced into the attack but there's no stopping to the Indian captain today. Slams a huge six to clean the mid-wicket boundary. The nonchalance!
India – 63/1 after 8 overs.
Skipper Babar Azam has brought fourth bowler Haris Rauf into the attack and just as I said there's NO STOPPING Rohit Sharma today! Smacks him for a gigantic six to long-on. A little miscommunication on the next ball but the batters manage to run a single. WOAH! A statement knock this. Rohit Sharma notches up yet another six, this time slams the ball over covers.
India – 77/1 after 9 overs.
India lose another wicket as Virat Kohli gives away an easy catch to Nawaz on Hasan Ali's delivery. He walks back at 16.
India – 79/2 after 10 overs.
Shreyas Iyer has joined Rohit Sharma in the middle. Haris Rauf has the ball for the 11th over and he concedes just 2 runs off of it.
India – 81/2 after 11 overs.
Hasan Ali is back and is served with a boundary from Shreyas Iyer. 3 more runs come from the over.
India – 88/2 after 12 overs.
Another boundary for the number four batter to start the Rauf over with. Flicks the ball towards the fine-leg boundary to collect four runs. Pakistan must be missing Naseem Shah a bit too much now.
India – 96/2 after 13 overs.
It's Shadab Khan time. Rohit Sharma runs a single on his first delivery to bring up his eighth half-century against Pakistan. The fans give him a standing ovation. And just like that, India have reached the 100-run mark.
India – 101/2 after 14 overs.
It's yet another pull-shot from the Indian skipper that the Ahmedabad crowd is enjoying. Back of a length ball and he pulls it over square leg boundary to collect half-a-dozen. Time for drinks!
India – 111/2 after 15 overs.
Rohit finds gap again and the ball races away for a boundary. Shadab looks upset.
India – 116/2 after 16 overs.
Shreyas Iyer joins the party! Tosses the Shadab delivery for a huge 91-metre six to long-off.
India – 126/2 after 18 overs.
A fifty run-stand has come up between Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. The former is enjoying a buffet of big hits as he slams a boundary and wraps up the over with a gorgeous maximum.
India – 142/2 after 20 overs.
Down the track and smoked over long-on for yet another six. Shreyas Iyer in brilliant form. Meanwhile, the skipper, too, slams a boundary to sweeper cover.
India – 154/2 after 21 overs.
Shaheen Afridi is reintroduced into the attack. Oh no! He removes the Indian skipper and thus puts an end to a brilliant innings. He's just short of 14 runs from a century. Change in bowling has worked for the visitors.
India – 157/3 after 22 overs.
KL Rahul has joined Shreyas Iyer in the middle. Just singles and twos for India in the last two overs to inch closer to the victory.
India – 162/3 after 24 overs.
No boundaries have come in the last four overs but we have enough time to seal the win. We're just 24 runs away from it.
India – 168/3 after 26 overs.
The batters at crease are rotating strikes to let the fans enjoy the game a bit too long before switching gears.
India – 176/3 after 28 overs.
Nawaz starts again. Probably his final over of the day. A single on the first delivery and a misfield from Iftikhar Ahmed adds four more runs to India's account.
India – 182/3 after 29 overs.
The crowd erupts! Fireworks all over the sky as Shreyas Iyer hits the winning four for India. The stadium is echoing with the tunes of 'Vande Mataram'
INDIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS!!!
"It felt good. Usually you try to analyse the wicket as soon as possible. We realised the wicket is on the slower side so we wanted to bowl hard lengths. We were trying to make it as difficult as possible. (On how he reads pitches quickly and understands what lengths work) Just being aware I guess. I used to ask a lot of questions when I was young and that helps me now. Now I'm experienced. In my younger days they (seniors) were used to being troubled by me sometimes (with questions), but it helps to read the wicket and try different options. (On the slower ball to get rid of Rizwan) We were bowling in the middle overs and I saw Jaddu's ball was turning, not too much but a little bit. I count my slower ball as a spinner's slower ball, one of those days where it came off. (On the ball that got Shadab) Little phase where there was reverse swing, one of the occasions when the white ball was reverse swinging." - Jasprit Bumrah, Player of The Match