Match 12 between India and Pakistan marked one of the most intense rivalries in cricket, set against a backdrop of longstanding conflict between the two nations. The anticipation for this match was palpable at every stage, building up the excitement and expectations of fans and experts alike. The contest unfolded at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, adding to the grandeur of the occasion.
India won the toss and chose to chase the target, a decision that raised eyebrows among cricketing experts. The pressure was on Rohit Sharma and his team to justify this choice on the field. Pakistan commenced their innings and quickly established a solid 41-run partnership, showcasing their potential. However, the momentum shifted as A. Shafique was adjudged leg before wicket by Md Siraj. Captain Babur Azam then joined forces with Imam-ul-Haq, contributing 32 runs to the total before Hardik Pandya dismissed Imam-ul-Haq.
Mohammad Rizwan displayed resilience, partnering with his captain Azam to take the score to 155. Azam, after a commendable performance, was bowled by Md Siraj, reaching a well-earned 50 runs from 58 balls. From this point onwards, Pakistan’s innings unraveled swiftly, resembling a house of cards collapsing. The Indian bowlers dominated, causing Pakistan to collapse at 191 runs in 42.5 overs. Jasprit Bumrah, Md Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja each shared 2 wickets, showcasing a collective bowling effort. India’s decision to bowl first proved right and able to bowled out Pakistan timidly. Pakistanis were under pressure of losing agian at the hands of pakistan and will have to wait for another 4 years.
India needed to chase down 191 runs to secure their eighth consecutive victory against Pakistan in World Cup matches. In the second innings, India displayed a clear and positive approach, with the batsmen making their intentions known through aggressive strokes. Shubhman Gill was an early casualty, departing at 23 runs, but a promising 56-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli buoyed India’s hopes. Kohli’s departure at 79 led to Shreyas Iyer joining Rohit Sharma at the crease. They orchestrated a steady climb in the score, with Rohit falling just short of his eighth century at 86 runs when he was caught by Nawaz off Hasan Ali’s bowling. In process Rohit hit his 300th sixes
In the end, Iyer delivered the finishing touch, clinching the game with a boundary and securing his half-century. India achieved the target in 30.3 overs with a loss of 3 wickets, marking their third consecutive victory in the World Cup tournament. Jasprit Bumrah, who proved to be the game-changer with his crucial contributions, was rightly declared the Player of the Match for his exceptional performance of 2 wicketsby giving just 19 runs. The match left a lasting imprint on the annals of cricket history, adding yet another captivating chapter to the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.
| Match-12 | ||||
| Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 14 October 2023 | Toss- India | ||
| Pakistan | India | India won by 7 wickets | ||
| 191(42.5) | 192/3(30.3) | |||
| B Azam-50(58) M Rizwan-49(69) | S Afridi-2/36 | R Sharma-86(63) S Iyer-53(62) | J Bumrah-2/19 H Pandya-2/34 K Yadav-2/35 R Jadeja-2/38 | POM Jasprit Bumrah- 2/19 |
| ICC MEN’S WORLD CUP POINTS TABLE | ||||||||
| Rank | Team | Played | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR | Qualification |
| 1 | India | 3 | 3 | 0 | – | 6 | +1.821 | |
| 2 | Newzealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | – | 6 | +1.604 | |
| 3 | South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 4 | +2.360 | |
| 4 | Pakistan | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | 4 | -0.137 | |
| 5 | England | 2 | 0 | 1 | – | 2 | +0.553 | |
| 6 | Bangladesh | 3 | 1 | 2 | – | 2 | -0.699 | |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | -1.161 | |
| 8 | Netherland | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | -1.800 | |
| 9 | Australia | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | -1.846 | |
| 10 | Afghanistan | 2 | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | -1.907 | |
