India registered their biggest-ever win over Pakistan by 228 runs as the Men in Blue prevailed over Babar Azam’s men in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul smashed their respective centuries to power India to a total of 356/2, and in reply, Pakistan folded for 128 runs courtesy of Kuldeep Yadav’s five-wicket haul.
India defeated Pakistan by 228 runs to register their largest-ever win by runs margin over their arch-rivals and go top of the Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 points table on Monday, September 11.
Earlier, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill smashed fifties, stitching together a 121-run stand as India were invited to bat first by Babar Azam.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul began the rebuild as rain halted proceedings on Sunday at the Premadasa Stadium and the match was pushed to Monday.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul resumed action on 147/2 after the day's play began two hours late due to rain but the fans got their money's worth as the pair stitched together a 223-run stand to power India to a total of 356/2.
Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his unbeaten 122-run inning in 94 balls including 9 boundaries and three sixes.
It was a day full of records for Kohli who scored his 47th ODI ton, became the fastest to cross the 13,000 ODI runs mark and he also went past the 1000-run mark in international cricket in the year 2023.
KL Rahul last played an ODI for India on March 22, he may not have played the game if Shreyas Iyer was fit, the latter got back spasms and Rahul was included in India's playing XI and the Karnataka batter smashed his 6th ODI ton on his comeback.
After India finished with a total of 356/2, the Men in Blue ended up restricting Pakistan for 128 runs, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf were injured so India only had to pick up 8 wickets which they did courtesy of Kuldeep Yadav's fifer.
An Indian bowler picked up a five-wicket haul against Pakistan only the fifth time, and the figures of 5/25 are the 8th all-time best in India vs Pakistan games.
Apart from Kuldeep's five-wicket haul, Jasprit Bumrah got the early wicket of Imam-ul-Haq, Hardik Pandya removed Babar Azam and Shardul Thakur got Mohammad Rizwan.