In a much-anticipated showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 ended with India securing a convincing victory. The match, held on October 14, witnessed a stellar performance by Rohit Sharma and India’s overwhelming dominance, resulting in a 7-wicket win for the Men in Blue.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, with its colossal capacity of 1,30,000, was a sight to behold as Indian fans thronged the stands, creating an electric atmosphere. In stark contrast, only a handful of Pakistani supporters made their presence felt, leaving Pakistan’s team director, Mickey Arthur, disgruntled.
Mickey Arthur, who had previously served as the head coach of the Pakistan team, expressed his disappointment with the atmosphere in Ahmedabad. He went on to say that the India vs. Pakistan match felt more like a bilateral series or a BCCI event than an ICC tournament. The absence of strong support for the Pakistani side was evident, and the chants of “Dil Dil Pakistan” were conspicuously missing.
Despite the obvious imbalance in fan support, Mickey Arthur refused to use it as an excuse for Pakistan’s performance. He commended India for their clinical display in Ahmedabad and emphasized that their focus was on the game and the next delivery.
However, when questioned about whether such an atmosphere was suitable for a World Cup match, Arthur chose to remain diplomatic, stating, “I don’t think I can comment on that just yet. I don’t want to get fined.”
On the field, India outclassed Pakistan by restricting them to a modest total of 191 runs after Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field. Rohit Sharma himself was the star of the show, smashing an explosive 86 off just 63 balls, including 6 sixes and as many boundaries.
The electrifying atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium was marked by a sea of blue-clad Indian fans, while the Pakistani fans present were greatly outnumbered. Even Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, faced the brunt of the crowd’s enthusiasm as he was booed during the toss. In contrast, the Indian stars received thunderous cheers.
Before the match, Babar Azam had expressed hopes of substantial support for his team in Ahmedabad, especially after the tremendous backing they received in their initial matches in Hyderabad. Pakistan had pulled off a historic World Cup chase by successfully pursuing 345 against Sri Lanka on October 10.
In the end, it was a resounding win for India, but the spotlight remained on the divided support in the stands, an issue that will continue to be discussed in the cricketing world.
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