India VS Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy LIVE: Pakistan had infamously made just 22 runs in their first 10 overs in the tournament opener against New Zealand. While Babar Azam and Imam-Ul-Haq managed to improve, it was not an ideal batting powerplay for Mohammad Rizwan's side as managed just 52 runs despite the fielding restrictions. Both Babar and Imam fell without significant contributions, letting India take control of the game. Rohit Sharma tried four bowlers in the first ten overs, and none of them let Pak batters attack with only two fielders outside the 3-0-yard-circle.
In case you missed Pakistan's batting powerplay, here is what happened:
Calm before the perfect storm 👀#PAKvIND 📝: https://t.co/dmkGSEgMZr#ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/s2y1Ayco9T
— ICC (@ICC) February 23, 2025
Over 1: Mohammed Shami gifted Pakistan five wides and Imam Ul-Haq opened his account with a single in the fourth delivery of the over.
6/0
Over 2: Babar Azam started cautiously against Harshit Rana before finding a couple to open his account after five balls.
10/0
Over 3: Shami bowled with more discipline, giving away no free runs. Imam managed two more couples but still no boundary for Pakistan.
14/0
Over 4: After two dot balls, Babar Azam slashed Rana through the leg side to score the first boundary of the match. A splendid cover drive in the second-last ball of the game took Babar to 10.
22/0
Over 5: A very disciplined over from Shami as Imam struggled to find runs.
25/0
Over 6: Imam-ul-Haq failed to use most of another Powerplay over as Harshit Rana handed Pakistan just one run.
26/0
Over 7: Hardik Pandya was brought into the attack by Rohit Sharma. Babar Azam failed to play any big shots in the first three balls before he smashed a boundary through the covers -- only the second of the innings.
31/0
Over 8: Axar Patel was handed the ball and the left-handed Imam stole a single right away to hand Babar the strike. He charged out of the crease to find another boundary over the long-on in the fourth ball of the over. It was still not the big over Pakistan was waiting for.
37/0
Hardik Pandya with the first wicket ✅
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 23, 2025
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Over 9: Babar started the over with a four before giving KL Rahul a regulation catch behind the stumps. He is dismissed for 23 off 26 balls after mistiming another cover drive on the next ball. A knick slightly deviated the ball but a diving Rahul had problems as he collected it comfortably.
Saud Shakeel, the new batter, got four leg-byes off the first ball he faced before scoring a double off the over's last ball to open his account.
47/1
Over 10: Kuldeep Yadav was asked to bowl the final over og the batting PowerPlay. Trying to steal a quick single, Imam-ul-Haq, handed Axar Patel a run-out opportunity at mid-on. The bowling all-rounder produced a direct hit to end the Pakistan opener's stay in the middle, having made 10 runs from 26 balls.
Accuracy 🔥
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 23, 2025
Axar Patel with a direct hit to earn the second wicket for #TeamIndia 👏 🎯
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Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan joined Saud in the middle. He blasted a four in the third ball of the over -- the very first he faced. However, he failed to find any more runs in the last three balls of the powerplay.
At the end of batting powerplay, Pakistan 52/2