Asia Cup 2022 Championship: Trivia and turning point of the match

 

Shahnawaz Dahani's splendid cameo 

The 24-year-old pacer came to bat at number 11 when Pakistan was in trouble at 128/9 in the 19th over. Playing his only 3rd T20I in Asia Cup and that too against India, the youngster held his nerves to smash 16 runs in 6 balls, helping Pakistan's total climb to 147. 

Shahnawaz Dahani's batting benefitted Pakistan as he struck two sixes in the pressure situation before getting clean bowled by left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. 

His intent to block Bhuvneshwar Kumar's hattrick wicket-taking ball and pulling off the role of finisher caught a lot of attention from fans on Twitter

KL Rahul's golden duck

Chasing a target of 148, India didn't get an ideal start as Pakistan's debutant Naseem Shah took KL Rahul for a golden duck as his maiden T20I wicket. 

A 142 kmph short of length and outside-off ball that KL Rahul attempted to dangle with his bat but got an inside edge dragging onto the stumps. While it was a debut for Naseem Shah, KL Rahul was playing his first T20I of the year. And his return was not an ideal comeback to witness. 

Witnessing the dismissal, Shaheen Shah Afridi clapped from the stands, delighted, but Indian fans couldn't stop trolling the batter for another poor outing.

One of the fans wrote, "T20 World Cup vs Pak - Rohit Sharma 0(1)

Asia Cup vs Pak - KL Rahul 0(1) #INDvsPAK”

While another user wrote, "Another first ball 0 from #KLRAHUL Nothing new. I wonder why he keeps getting an automatic inclusion in the playing XI, but then who knows who the #BCCI likes and dislikes. It's going to be a tough chase. #IndvsPak #Asiacup2022”

A lifeline to Virat Kohli to find a short comeback

After dismissing KL Rahul for a golden duck, Naseem Shah continued troubling Indian batters. On the fourth ball of his first over, Virat Kohli edged an outside off delivery but got a lifeline as Fakhar Zaman standing at second slip, failed to hold onto it as he even dived to catch it. 

The chance of dismissing him came heavy on Pakistan as King Kohli went on to play a brilliant anchoring role in his 100th T20I, scoring 35 off 34 to emerge as the joint top run-scorer for India. 

Coming on fields after a 42-day long break, some of the shots were as majestic and significant to give a glimpse of in-form Kohli, whereas, against some balls, he looked to be struggling while maintaining his calm on-field.

Naseem Shah's injury and Indian batters making most of it

Naseem Shah had an awe-inspiring debut for Pakistan in a high-pressure game against India. Taking KL Rahul in the first over and almost dismissing Virat Kohli in the same over, his threat to Indian bowlers was apparent. 

After bowling two overs in the powerplay and taking a wicket, he gave another breakthrough by dismissing Surykumar Yadav returning in the 15th over. However, while bowling the crucial 18th over, the bowler looked to be struggling with his foot. It was a sign of worry as Pakistan had already lost Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr to injuries. 

Despite being troubled, the bowler held his nerves and continued to bowl good balls but conceded 11 runs in that over as Ravindra Jadeja smashed him for a massive six and four. They overcame pressure released over as Pakistan's tight bowling strangled Indian batters.

Ravindra Jadeja's DRS in the 18th over to reverse the out given by the on-field umpire

India gave a fascinating turn to the chase game by sending Ravindra Jadeja to top the order at number 4, losing three wickets for 53 runs.  

The chase game went extremely intense as it kept on extending till the final over. Pakistan bowlers were clinical in ensuring not to give India an easy win. Out of all the moments where the match shifted momentum multiple times, the fourth ball of the 18th overcame as a potential game changer. 

India was batting with a stable partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya. Naseem Shah bowled a stunner which looked to be an LBW wicket that the on-field umpire gave out. However, Ravindra Jadeja confidently reviewed the decision. It came in favour of India as the ball was pitching outside off. 

Had Jadeja not reviewed it, India would have lost the batter who was flaring against bowlers in great form. Following the reversal of the decision, a sigh of relief was seen across the dressing room. In response, the all-rounder smashed a massive six on the next ball.