On This Day — Rohit Sharma’s Masterclass Powers India to Dominant Win Over Pakistan at Old Trafford

Rohit Sharma led the way with a brilliant century, showing once again why he’s one of the best in the format. The middle order chipped in with quick runs, and the bowlers backed it up by picking crucial wickets. It was a near-perfect outing that gave fans belief in India’s title chances. Here’s a look at how it all unfolded.

India vs Pakistan: 16th June 2019

The start of the India innings at Old Trafford on June 16, 2019, came with Pakistan’s captain Sarfaraz Ahmed choosing to bowl first, banking on early swing under cloudy Manchester skies. India’s openers, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, settled in against Mohammad Amir’s probing new-ball spell. The first powerplay (0.1–10.0 overs) saw them score 53 without loss, with Rohit looking in sublime touch. By 9.6 overs, India hit 50, Rohit smashing 37 off 34 balls with six fours and two sixes, while Rahul played anchor with 14. Their 50-run stand took just 60 balls, laying a platform for India’s charge.

Rohit and Rahul kept the scoreboard ticking, reaching a 100-run partnership in 105 balls by 17.3 overs. Rohit raced to his fifty in 34 balls, peppering boundaries with ease, while Rahul’s fifty came off 69 balls, including three fours and a six. At the 18-over drinks break, India were a solid 101/0. The duo’s 136-run opening stand ended in the 23.5th over when Wahab Riaz got Rahul, caught by Babar Azam for 57 (78 balls, three fours, two sixes). India hit 150 by 25.4 overs, with Rohit still in full flow.

Rohit’s century, off 85 balls with nine fours and three sixes, was a masterclass in timing and placement. He paired up with Virat Kohli for a 98-run second-wicket stand over 88 balls, pushing India past 200 in 34.2 overs. At the 36-over drinks break, India were 215/1, with Rohit on 126 and Kohli on 26. Rohit fell for a brilliant 140 (113 balls, 14 fours, three sixes) in the 38.2nd over, caught off Hasan Ali, leaving India at 234/2. Kohli, cool as ever, notched his fifty off 51 balls with three fours. India crossed 250 in 40.2 overs, setting up for the final powerplay (40.1–50.0 overs), where they plundered 88 runs for three wickets.

Hardik Pandya smashed 26 off 19 balls, with two fours and a six, adding 51 runs with Kohli in 32 balls. Mohammad Amir, Pakistan’s standout bowler, broke through, dismissing Pandya (caught by Babar) and MS Dhoni (1 off 2 balls, caught by Sarfaraz) in the 43.5th and 45.1st overs. Amir also removed Kohli for 77 (65 balls, seven fours) in the 47.4th over, leaving India at 314/5. Vijay Shankar (15 not out off 15 balls, one four) and Kedar Jadhav (9 not out off 8 balls, one four) steered India to 336/5, helped by 11 extras (one bye, one leg bye, nine wides).

Amir’s 3/47 in 10 overs, including a maiden, was Pakistan’s best effort. Hasan Ali (1/84) and Wahab Riaz (1/71) leaked runs, while Imad Wasim (0/49) and Shadab Khan (0/61) couldn’t find breakthroughs. Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, part-timers, went for 11 each in their solitary overs. India’s 6.72 run rate showed their control, with Rohit’s 140 earning him Player of the Match. A brief rain stoppage at 305/4 in 46.4 overs didn’t faze them, with Shankar surviving a review. India’s disciplined batting and late surge exposed Pakistan’s bowling frailties, setting a daunting target.

The start of the Pakistan innings, chasing a rain-adjusted 302 in 40 overs, saw India’s bowlers come out firing. Rain delayed the start, but Vijay Shankar struck early, trapping Imam-ul-Haq lbw for 7 (18 balls, one four) in the 4.5th over. Pakistan managed 38/1 in the first powerplay (0.1–10.0 overs). Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam steadied things, reaching 50 in 12.5 overs. Their 50-run second-wicket partnership took 61 balls, with Zaman on 23 and Azam on 27.

By the 15-over drinks break, Pakistan were 64/1, looking composed. Zaman and Azam’s partnership grew to 100 runs in 108 balls, with Zaman hitting his fifty off 59 balls (six fours, one six). Pakistan crossed 100 in 21.4 overs, but Kuldeep Yadav turned the game, bowling Azam for 48 (57 balls, three fours, one six) in the 23.6th over. Zaman fell soon after, caught off Kuldeep for 62 (75 balls, seven fours, one six) in the 25.2nd over, leaving Pakistan at 126/3. Kuldeep’s 2/32 in nine overs, with a tight 3.55 economy, choked Pakistan’s scoring.

Hardik Pandya piled on the pressure, dismissing Mohammad Hafeez (9 off 7 balls, one six) and Shoaib Malik (0 off 1 ball) in the 26th over, reducing Pakistan to 129/5. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed crawled to 12 off 30 balls, falling to Shankar in the 34.1st over, leaving Pakistan reeling at 165/6. Imad Wasim (46 not out off 39 balls, six fours) and Shadab Khan (20 not out off 14 balls, one four) fought back with an unbeaten 47-run stand. Pakistan hit 200 in 38.1 overs, ending at 212/6, with eight extras (one leg bye, one no-ball, six wides).

India’s bowling was relentless. Shankar’s 2/22 in 5.2 overs and Pandya’s 2/44 in eight overs broke Pakistan’s back. Kuldeep’s spin was lethal, while Jasprit Bumrah (0/52) and Yuzvendra Chahal (0/53) kept things tight despite no wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar managed just 2.4 overs (0/8) before injury. Pakistan’s 5.30 run rate couldn’t match the required 7.55, showing their struggle against India’s attack. Rain halted play at 166/6 in 35 overs, but it only delayed India’s dominance.

Pakistan’s batting crumbled under pressure. Imam’s early exit set a shaky tone, and the quick losses of Hafeez and Malik sparked a collapse. Sarfaraz’s sluggish knock didn’t help, leaving too much for the lower order. Imad and Shadab’s late fight kept the score respectable but couldn’t threaten India’s grip and the 89-run defeat via the D/L method highlighted India’s superiority, earning them two points and boosting their net run rate to +0.809, while Pakistan’s slipped to -0.430.

The match was a showcase of India’s all-round strength. Rohit’s dazzling 140, backed by Kohli’s 77 and Rahul’s 57, set a towering total, while Shankar and Kuldeep’s bowling exposed Pakistan’s weaknesses. The electric Old Trafford crowd, mostly in blue, roared as India maintained their perfect World Cup record against Pakistan in a clash defined by skill and strategy.