IND vs PAK: 16 runs, five wickets - How Babar Azam wicket triggered massive Pakistan collapse vs India

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IND vs PAK: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan had successfully silenced the massive crowd of over one lakh present at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad by forging a partnership which left the Indian camp sweating in their third match of the World Cup 2023 on Saturday.

The 82-run partnership off 102 balls for the third wicket had laid the perfect foundation for Pakistan who were cruising at 155/2 in 29.3 overs. However, the next delivery from Mohammed Siraj turned the match on its head entirely.

Babar Azam, who was batting on 50, was outdone by the pace of Mohammad Siraj while trying to work a full length delivery towards third man. The good length delivery skidded rapidly to clean Babar Azam's off stump.

Saud Shakeel, one of the better players of spin in Pakistan batting line-up, was expected to join hands with Rizwan and carry forward the momentum but he could last just 10 balls, getting trapped by Kuldeep Yadav in front of the stumps. An excellent flighted delivery dipped on Shakeel, who was on his back foot, before turning and beating his bat.

Kuldeep Yadav struck on the final ball of the same over to get rid of Iftikhar Ahmed this time. The batter went for a sweep but failed to read Kuldeep's googly as the ball hit his gloves and then deflected onto the leg stump. Iftikhar stood at the crease dumbstruck before walking back to the pavilion amid the roar from Indian fans who were back on their feet.

Jasprit Bumrah was introduced by Rohit Sharma in the next over and the bowling change did wonders as the gun pacer cleaned the stumps of Mohammad Rizwan (49). The slower full length delivery from Bumrah came back in after pitching and cleaning the off-stump, giving India their third wicket in a span of 11 balls.

Bumrah picked another wicket in his following over with a dream delivery which uprooted the off-stump of Shadab Khan. Another length delivery which angled back in sharply to hit the off-stump. With the wicket, Pakistan found them reeling at 171/7 in 35.2 overs.

Hardik Pandya got the wicket of Mohammad Nawaz and Ravindra Jadeja picked two wickets to wrap up Pakistan innings for 191 in 42.5 overs. With India needing just 192 runs to win, they look set to maintain their clear unbeaten record against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup against Pakistan by registering their eighth in the marquee ICC event.