On a humid afternoon at Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the second ODI of 1987, an unknown Salim Malik strolled to the crease, greeted by the raucous cheers of Indian supporters. Pakistan’s batting had already lost its pillars, and with 78 runs required from just eight overs, the target of 239 in 40 overs seemed insurmountable by any stretch of imagination. Malik, an unheralded figure whose most notable contribution in ODIs was a modest 72 against Sri Lanka, stood as the last flicker of hope against India’s mighty bowling lineup.
For India, the match seemed a mere formality - victory was not a question of if but when. With Kapil Dev, Madan Lal, Maninder Singh, and Ravi Shastri charging in, the home crowd braced for a celebratory crescendo. But then, out of nowhere, Malik’s bat turned into a scythe, and the Indian bowlers looked like schoolboys tossed into the deep end of a professional arena. Malik blasted 72 off just 35 balls, silencing the Eden Gardens. Pakistan snatched an improbable victory, sending a resounding message: They could punch above their weight against India, regardless of odds.
The win was more than just a cricketing triumph - it was a shift in psychological warfare. For years to come, India would struggle to shed the shadow of these losses, mentally and tactically outmaneuvered by Pakistan. It was a vicious circle of defeats that stung deeper with each encounter. Yet, over time, India adapted, crafting a system that churned out players capable not only of competing but of dominating, and eventually exorcising the demons of Pakistan’s unpredictability.
Pakistan’s Fall into
the Abyss of Defeat
Fast forward to 2023: The dynamic between the two arch-rivals has reversed. Where once Pakistan carried the upper hand, today, it is India who strides onto the field with supreme confidence — their victories scripted well before the toss. For Pakistan, the burden of their past glory has morphed into a millstone, and nowhere is this more evident than in the ICC World Cup, where Pakistan’s record against India reads like a litany of failures. Eight meetings, eight defeats - a streak that haunts the cricketing nation and reduces their unpredictability to a tired clichĂ©.
In the latest chapter of this rivalry, Pakistan's collapse at Ahmedabad showcased how deep these psychological scars run. After their heroics in Hyderabad, optimism accompanied Pakistan to the Narendra Modi Stadium, but India’s dominance was ruthless. Put into bat by Rohit Sharma, Pakistan began promisingly. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq resisted early pressure, and when both openers departed, the dependable Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan forged a steady partnership, silencing the crowd with calculated stroke play.
Babar, finally breaking his ODI drought against India with a measured half-century, looked ready to anchor the innings. But cricket, much like life, is often unforgiving. A cross-seamed delivery from Mohammed Siraj jagged off the pitch, and Babar, opting for an angled bat rather than the full face, edged it to the keeper. It was a lapse in judgment that betrayed his usual finesse.
Then came Kuldeep Yadav, whose guile exposed Pakistan’s lack of application. Saud Shakeel misjudged a flatter delivery, playing back when he should have been forward, trapped plumb in front. Two wickets have gone in quick succession, and suddenly Pakistan's grip on the game unraveled like a poorly-knotted thread.
Enter Jasprit Bumrah - India’s talisman in pressure situations. With Pakistan’s hopes pinned on Rizwan, Bumrah’s off-cutter dismantled the in-form batter’s defense, forcing a mistimed stroke that cracked the floodgates open. From 155-2, Pakistan collapsed spectacularly, losing eight wickets for a mere 36 runs. A once-promising innings crumbled, and dreams of posting a competitive 280-300 evaporated in the Ahmedabad heat.
A Tale of Unmet Potential
Pakistan’s defeat was more than just a statistical setback it was symbolic of deeper structural flaws. A bowling attack heralded as fierce and threatening lacked discipline, and the much-touted pace battery fizzled without a coherent plan. Raw speed is mesmerizing, but without control and intent, it becomes a blunt instrument. The bowlers drifted into mediocrity, with neither bite nor rhythm to trouble the opposition.
This defeat also underscores a troubling pattern in Pakistan’s recent performances: their inability to capitalize on psychological advantages. The thrilling chase against Sri Lanka was quickly followed by a humiliating collapse against India - a narrative that Pakistan seems unable to escape. They are a team defined not by consistency but by inconsistency; the rare moments of brilliance are drowned out by long spells of mediocrity.
Meanwhile, India’s dominance is a reflection of a system meticulously built over years. It is not just the physicality or the talent - it is the mental edge. India now wins against Pakistan not only because of superior skills but because they believe they will win, a belief that has slowly drained from Pakistan’s psyche.
The history of India-Pakistan cricket is one of shifting tides, where fortune favours one side before cruelly turning the other way. For Pakistan, the current phase feels like an unending twilight - moments of hope overshadowed by the recurring nightmares of defeat. They have become spectators in their own rivalry, applauding India’s rise while struggling to rediscover their own spirit. Until Pakistan learns to channel their unpredictability into something more tangible, they will remain trapped in this vicious cycle.
And in the grand theatre of World Cup cricket, the once-mighty force that sent shivers through India now stares into the abyss — unable to answer the most crucial question: *Which Pakistan will show up today?*
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment