Nagpur: An atmosphere of jubilation swept across Nagpur on Sunday night after India outclassed Pakistan in a high-voltage ICC T20 World Cup encounter, sealing a place in the Super 8 stage of the tournament. Cricket enthusiasts thronged major city spots, with Dharampeth emerging as the epicentre of celebrations.
As news of India’s emphatic win spread, hundreds of Nagpurians gathered in Dharampeth waving the national flag, raising slogans of “India, India,” and bursting firecrackers. The sound of dhols and cheers filled the air as youngsters danced on the streets. To prevent any untoward incidents and manage traffic flow, police personnel were deployed in significant numbers across key junctions.
On the field, Pakistan faltered while chasing 176 and were bowled out for 114, unable to withstand the sustained pressure from India’s disciplined bowling unit. Apart from Usman Khan’s 44-run effort, the rest of the batting line-up struggled to build momentum.
India’s bowlers executed their plans with precision. Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy delivered economical spells, picking up two wickets each. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya also scalped two wickets apiece, tightening the grip on Pakistan’s innings. Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma chipped in with a wicket each as skipper Suryakumar Yadav smartly rotated seven bowlers to maintain relentless pressure.
Earlier, India posted a formidable total of 175 after being asked to bat first. Ishan Kishan led the charge with a scintillating 77 off 40 balls, anchoring the innings with aggressive stroke play. Suryakumar Yadav added 32, while Tilak Varma (25) and Shivam Dube (27) provided crucial contributions in the middle order.
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub was the most effective bowler, claiming three wickets for 25 runs. Salman Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Tariq managed one wicket each.
The commanding victory extended India’s unbeaten run in the tournament and reinforced their dominance in one of cricket’s most intense rivalries. Back in Nagpur, the celebrations reflected the city’s passion for the game, as supporters revelled in yet another memorable triumph over arch-rivals Pakistan.