India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in the Super 12 stage.
The Men in Blue largely defeated Pakistan on the back of Virat Kohli’s awe-inspiring 82* off 53 balls while chasing the target of 160.
The top-order failed to step up the plate as India were reduced to 31/4 at one stage. Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul endured another failure against Pakistan in a T20 World Cup match, scoring 4 runs each before being dismissed by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah respectively.
After the game, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar said Rohit and Rahul looked under pressure against Pakistan at MCG on Sunday (October 23).
"India openers looked under pressure. Rohit Sharma as a captain should calm himself down and KL Rahul is throwing his wicket by focusing too much on himself," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
The Rawalpindi Express is now hoping for a rematch between India and Pakistan in the knockout stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"Right now, India have won one match and Pakistan have lost one match. Pakistan will meet India in this World Cup again in the later stage. When India and Pakistan play only then the World Cup starts."
The marquee clash, which went to the last ball, was deemed as one of the best matches in the history of the game by Akhtar.
"It was one of the best matches in the history of the game. The wicket was very bad, where it was difficult to understand the ball. But Pakistan achieved 160 on it. Pakistan could have had achieved more but unfortunately our lower middle order couldn't play maturely,” he stated.
Shoaib Akhtar urged Babar Azam and company to bounce back from this defeat instead of sinking further.
"Pakistan accept this defeat with grace and comeback with a strategy and resources and a better game plan. You don't have to fall from here, you have played wonderfully," he said.