The nation is proud of you all – PM Imran Khan after Pakistan’s win against India

Babar won the toss and opted to chase. The decision paid off. Both Babar and Rizwan toyed with Indian bowlers as Kohli’s men in blue struggled with the wet ball when dew settled in the second half of the game.

Earlier, Afridi’s impressive burst of two quick wickets put India on the back foot from the onset. Kohli and Rishabh Pant (39) tried briefly to unsettle the attack with Pant hitting two sixes before he skied a catch to Shadab Khan (1-22) while attempting a sweep in the 13th over.

Pakistan’s bowlers — especially Haris Rauf and Afridi — varied their pace intelligently in the death overs that didn’t allow even batting maestro Kohli to accelerate. Kohli was finally undone by Afridi’s slower bouncer in the penultimate over as he top-edged a catch to Rizwan behind the stumps.

Babar and Rizwan were hardly troubled by either the pace of Jasprit Bumrah or the two spinners in a perfectly orchestrated run chase with the wet ball coming onto the bat nicely.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was a happy man and lauded the entire team for their magnificent performance against the Men in Blue. “Congratulations to the Pakistan Team & esp to Babar Azam who led from the front, as well as to the brilliant performances of Rizwan & Shaheen Afridi. The nation is proud of you all,” he wrote.

Congratulations to the Pakistan Team & esp to Babar Azam who led from the front, as well as to the brilliant performances of Rizwan & Shaheen Afridi. The nation is proud of you all. pic.twitter.com/ygoOVTu37l

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 24, 2021