Ahmedabad, India – In a spectacle that could only be described as grandiose, over 120,000 cricket enthusiasts descended upon the Narendra Modi Stadium for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup’s highly anticipated showdown between archrivals India and Pakistan.
However, the overwhelming majority of spectators donned the Indian tricolor, exuberantly rallying behind their national team with an unparalleled fervor.
In a performance that further cemented their World Cup supremacy over their neighbors, India delivered a resounding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan, who succumbed to a meager total of 191 runs in the 43rd over, succumbing to the relentless onslaught of the disciplined Indian bowlers.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was unquestionably one-sided, with the stadium announcer and the exuberant crowd rallying solely for the home side, making it an intimidating environment for the Pakistani players. The musical selections played within the arena also echoed the partisan nature of the event.
Mickey Arthur, the director of the Pakistan team, did not mince words in his post-match press conference. He candidly stated, “It didn’t seem like an ICC event to be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) event.”
Arthur did point out that the public address system organizers seemed to favor India by playing patriotic songs predominantly in favor of the home team, notably omitting the renowned “Dil Dil Pakistan.”
Nevertheless, Arthur refused to use the crowd’s bias as an excuse for Pakistan’s resounding seven-wicket defeat. He emphasized their focus on living in the moment and their strategies to combat the formidable Indian players.
Notably, Pakistan fans were conspicuously absent from the stadium, as visa complications prevented their attendance, leaving the venue awash with the blue shirts of Indian supporters.
Since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India and Pakistan have been unable to engage in a full bilateral cricket series due to ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This event further underscored the challenges faced by fans on both sides, with Pakistan fans unable to secure visas despite already holding World Cup match tickets.
On the field, Pakistan’s batting performance was underwhelming, with only captain Babar Azam (50) and Mohammad Rizwan (49) contributing significantly to the team’s total. Arthur admitted to their timid approach and believed they could have taken on the Indian spinners more aggressively.
India’s bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja, shared the spoils, each claiming two wickets as Pakistan folded in just 42.5 overs after being 155-2 at one stage.
The victory extended India’s impeccable World Cup record against Pakistan to 8-0, with Arthur acknowledging that his team was well beaten in both the 2019 and the recent 2023 encounters.
Grant Bradburn, the head coach of the Pakistan team, shared similar sentiments about the atmosphere at one of the world’s largest cricket stadiums. He expressed disappointment over the absence of Pakistani fans, stating that the occasion felt unusual, devoid of familiar music, and not quite like a traditional World Cup match.
Bradburn lamented the missed opportunity to have Pakistani fans in the stadium, acknowledging that both Indian and Pakistani supporters would have relished the unique atmosphere. Despite the challenges, the cricketing world bore witness to yet another memorable India-Pakistan clash.
