India vs Pakistan - As it happened, Asia Cup 2018: Rohit Sharma, bowlers shine as India win by 8 wickets

India beat Pakistan by eight wickets in a Group A match of the Asia Cup 2018. As a result India top group A and will play Bangladesh in their next match. Chasing a modest 163 to win India raced to the target in 29 overs. Skipper Rohit Sharma scored a sparkling half century and he was given good support by fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan. Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik remained not out in the end. Earlier India bowlers did well to restrict Pakistan to only 162. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was named the man of the match for picking up three wickets and he was well supported by other pacers and spinners. Babar Azam was Pakistan’s top scorer with 47. Follow India vs Pakistan, Live Cricket Score in Asia Cup 2018 here:

23:19 hrs IST

That’s it, thanks for joining us

That’s it from us, do join us tomorrow as the last match of the group stages takes place between Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

23:07 hrs IST

India win comfortably

Ambati Rayudu hits the winning runs as India clinch a comfortable win. The bowlers were the real star of the show as they restricted Pakistan to a sub-par score and the magic of India openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan put them in command of the chase. Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik saw the team home after the dismissal of the openers.

23:02 hrs IST

India doing it in style

India now need just 10 runs to win the match as Ambati Rayudu hits a boundary off Fakhar Zaman towards extra cover. The partnership between Rayudu and Karthik has reached 50 now off 69 deliveries.

22:50 hrs IST

India edge closer to win

With every passing over, India are edging closer to an emphatic win and this is going to be one of the most comfortable wins that the Men in Blue have recorded over their arch-rivals in recent years. The Pakistan fans are looking very deflated, like their stars on the field. India need 26 to win.

22:43 hrs IST

Karthik survives

Mohammed Amir surprised Dinesh Karthik by bowling a slower delivery and the right hander got sucked into it. But fortunately for DK that the ball landed in no man’s land in between the two fielders on the off-side. India now need just 31 to win.

22:36 hrs IST

Boundary

India now need just 35 runs to win the contest as Karthik and Rayudu are playing simple but effective cricket. Rayudu this time, cuts the a Faheem Ashraf delivery past the point fielder for a boundary.

22:30 IST

Good cricket from Indian batsmen

Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu are playing good cricket as they are milking the singles and doubles and taking the Indian score closer to the Pakistan total.

22:24 hrs IST

Huge hit

A half-cracker from Fakhar Zaman and Dinesh Karthik rocked onto the backfoot early and hits the ball over the mid-wicket region for his first maximum of the innings. A bad delivery from the spinner got what it truly deserved. Eight runs came from that over from Zaman as India now need just 49 runs to win the contest.

22:20 hrs IST

Dhawan falls

India have lost their second wicket of the day as Shikhar Dhawan departs for 46. Dhawan hits a short Faheem Ashraf delivery into the hands of the point fielder. The southpaw is not a happy customer as he could have hit the ball anywhere but somehow managed to hit it into the hands of Babar Azam.

22:14 hrs IST

Injury

Shadab Khan has left the field after bowling thee balls in his over and it seems that he has sustained some kind of injury. Not sure what about the nature of the injury to the Pakistan spinner, but we will update you once we have an official word from the venue.

22:11 hrs IST

India edge closer to 100

Shikhar Dhawan is timing the ball really well as he gets another boundary off the bowling of Hasan Ali. This time, he caresses the ball through covers for a boundary. Six runs come from the Ali over as India are now just three runs away from the 100-run mark.

22:08 hrs IST

Dhawan keeps on going

Rohit Sharma may have fallen but Shikhar Dhawan continues to score boundaries as he hits a four through the covers. Bowler Shadab Khan is not a happy man as a misfield from the fielder at covers helped in the ball reach the boundary.

22:03 hrs IST

Breakthrough for Pakistan

Pakistan have finally managed to break the opening stand as Shadab Khan removes Rohit Sharma on the first ball that he bowls in the match. Rohit fails to read a googly and the ball crashes into his stumps. India lose their first wicket for 86 as the India skipper departs for 52.

22:00 hrs IST

Half-century

Rohit Sharma is simply tearing the Pakistan bowling apart as he completes his fifty off just 36 deliveries. A six and a four off Hasan Ali gets Rohit past the 50-run mark in the match.

21:56 hrs IST

More runs

The Pakistan bowlers are reeling under the pressure that is being created from the scintillating batting display by the Indian openers. This time, a flick off his pads gets Shikhar Dhawan a glorious boundary. Seven runs came from that Faheem Ashraf over.

21:52 hrs IST

Stat attack

Rohit averages 92.33 as captain (when on 37*) compared to 44.12 when he’s a regular player ( the record is bolstered by the mammoth 208* vs SL at Mohali last year).

21:50 hrs IST

Big hit

Short delivery from Hasan Ali and Shikhar Dhawan pulls the ball over deep backward square leg for a huge six. There was a fielder present there as well, but the ball sailed over his head. Eight runs came from the over from Hasan Ali.

21:45 hrs IST

Dhawan joins the party

After getting tired of watching Rohit score runs freely on the other end, Dhawan too gets into the act as he cuts a delivery from Faheem Ashraf towards cover-point for a boundary.

21:41 hrs IST

Stat attack

This is Rohit & Shikhar’s 3rd 50+ opening stand against PAK in ODIs. They are now the 3rd-most prolific opening pair in this regard after Ganguly/Tendulkar (8) & Sehwag/Tendulkar (5).

21:39 hrs IST

Partnership

Rohit Sharma is now scoring freely as this time he hits the ball over the in-field for a boundary towards deep mid-wicket. With that, the 50-run partnership also comes up between Rohit and Dhawan.

21:36 hrs IST

No-ball hurts Pakistan

Rohit Sharma is now taking the attack to Pakistan as he scores 19 runs off the over from Usman Khan. After scoring a huge six, he hits a boundary off the no-ball. And then, he plays the hook shot to perfection off the free-hit. Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed is not a happy man.

21:32 hrs IST

Massive hit

Usman Khan bowls short but Rohit Sharma gets into position early and plays the pull shot to hit the first six of the innings. The ball sails over the square leg boundary for a huge six.

21:28 hrs IST

Four and Four!

Finally, Mohammed Amir bowls a bit wide and Rohit Sharma cuts the ball past the third-man fielder for a boundary. Then, Amir bowls full and Rohit plays the perfect cover drive for back-to-back boundaries. 10 runs came from that over from Amir.

21:22 hrs IST

Pacers on song

Another good over from Usman Khan comes to an end as he gives away just two runs from it. The good thing from India’s perspective is that they haven’t lost a wicket yet and both Dhawan and Rohit are looking settled in the middle. The duo will look to continue this start and stitch together a big partnership

21:16 hrs IST

Maiden over

Mohammed Amir too hits back strongly as he bowls the first maiden of the innings. He kept bowling at the body of Dhawan and didn’t give him any room to free his arms. India’s run-rate is currently at 3.0 per over.

21:11 hrs IST

Good over

Usman Khan gives away just one run from his second over of the innings and he bowls four dots as well. The left-arm pacer came back strongly after giving five runs from his first over.

21:05 hrs IST

Super cover drive!

Shikhar Dhawan seems to have brought his Hong Kong form into this match as well, as the southpaw plays a stunning cover drive off Mohammed Amir to score his first boundary of the innings. Both openers have now hit one four each in the chase so far.

21:00 hrs IST

Lucky boundary

Great delivery from Usman Khan as he produces an inside edge off the bat of Rohit Sharma but the ball misses the stumps and goes for a boundary. The bowler has his head in his hand as he knows that was very close.

20: 57 hrs IST

Good start for Amir

Left-arm pacer Mohammed Amir has made a steady start as he gives away just two runs from his first over. Both Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan scored one run each in the over to get off the mark.

20:52 hrs IST

India chase begins

The players are now making their way into the middle and skipper Rohit Sharma is taking the strike. Southpaw Shikhar Dhawan is at the non-striker’s end while Mohammed Amir has the new ball in his hand.

20:45 hrs IST

Kedar Jadhav during innings break

“I have always taken my role seriously hence I am bowling consistently. My role in the team is to contain the batsmen and in that process if I get a wicket, it’s fine. The wicket was slightly on the better side and my bowling is all about reading the mind of the batsman. I stick to my limitations and try to bowl in that way.”

20:30 hrs IST

Onus on India openers

India openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will look to provide India with a steady start in this chase of 163. The duo will have to play carefully against the likes of Mohammed Amir, Hasan Ali and Usman Khan in order to get the ‘Men In Blue’ off to a good start in the chase. The idea will be to not take the score lightly and play their natural game against the world class bowling attack of Pakistan.

20:14 hrs IST

Complete performance by the bowlers

A clinical performance from the bowlers: Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar were superb with the new ball, no freebies, putting pressure and getting rid of the openers. Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik put together a spirited stand, but once they were dismissed, Pakistan tripped, slipped, and fell away.

India now need 163 to get the job done. However, Pakistan will not go down without a fight.

20:10 hrs IST

Bumrah and that yorker

Vintage Bumrah, nails that yorker, squeezes under the bat and dislodges the stumps. Clinical performance by the bowlers and Pakistan were never in the game.

Bundled out for 162.

20:04 hrs IST

Shocking stroke by Hasan

It will be a very quiet dressing room after that stroke. Length ball on off, Hasan Ali wanted to biff it over mid on, no timing at all, Manish Pandey takes the catch easily on the circle.

19:59 hrs IST

Faheem departs

Lovely bowling by Bumrah, he changes the pace, Faheem wanted to belt it away over mid-wicket, he loses his shape, lack of pace did him, Dhawan takes it safely in the end.

19:56 hrs IST

This is a fighting partnership

Highest stands for PAKISTAN at this venue for the 8th wicket in ODIs: -

37* - Faheem/Amir v IND, 2018

33 - Fawad Alam/W Riaz v SA, 2010

30 - S Akhtar/U Gul v AUS, 2009

28 - S Afridi/W Riaz v SA, 2013

24 - A Razzaq/Z Haider v SA, 2010

19:46 hrs IST

Some semblance of a fight

Faheem Ashraf and Amir are trying to stitch a partnership together. It is worth 27 runs as of now.

Anything is a bonus for Pakistan

19:40 hrs IST

Pakistan staring at a bleak record

Pakistan have never been bowled out UNDER 200 in an ODI at Dubai.

Lowest completed totals for PAK at Dubai: -

207 v AUS, 2009

209 v SA, 2013

210 v SL, 2011

215 v AUS, 2014

222 v ENG, 2012

19:34 hrs IST

So, who doubts Kedar?

Best bowling figures by an IND bowler bowling at #7 or lower in an ODI vs PAK: -

3/13 - K Jadhav (After 6 overs)

2/36 - Sunil Joshi

1/4 - V Sehwag

1/6 - Yuvraj Singh

1/10 - K Srikkanth

19:26 hrs IST

Kedar - the beast

He has been so good, so tight, so frugal. The batsmen want to go after him, they keep falling by the wayside.

Shadab reaches out, wants to drive him over covers, the ball sneaks past him, feet are out and Dhoni does what Dhoni does. Pakistan are now 7 down!

19:23 hrs IST

Malik - Run out woes

This is Shoaib Malik’s first run out since 2017, when he was run out...against India at Birmingham in June 2017.

Most run-outs by a PAK batsman in ODIs: -

1. 40 - Inzamam Ul Haq

2. 38 - Mohammad Yousuf/Wasim Akram

3. 24 - Javed Miandad/Saleem Malik/Shoaid Malik

19:22 hrs IST

India lose their review

Jasprit Bumrah gets one to angle in from wide on the crease, pins Faheem Ashraf in front, but he is on the hop and the ball misses the stumps.

19:07 hrs IST

Collapse, collapse, Pakistan 6 down

That was not very short, it was not wide, but Asif wanted to cut, he gets an outside edge and keeper Dhoni pouches this one

19:03 hrs IST

Malik run out

Wow, India are alive on the field. Ambati Rayudu swooped on that ball at backward point, picked it up and then broke the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Malik is short, India on the charge!

18:55 hrs IST

Hardik Pandya Injury update

18:52 hrs IST

Stunning catch by Manish Pandey

Sarfraz wants to thwack Kedar down the ground, does not make the required connection, but now the action shifts to Manish Pandey, who runs across at long on, takes the catch, parries it back, then comes back on to collect the catch.

18:50 hrs IST

Malik dropped again

Shoaib Malik ran down the track, goes to slog Kuldeep over mid-wicket, miscues it, the ball goes up miles in the air, Bhuvneshwar is circling under the ball, and then makes a meal. Dropped, dropped, Malik for the second time.

18:41 hrs IST

An absolute peach from Kuldeep

Tossed up, it had the revs, it dipped even as Babar Azam comes down the track, looks to work it away through square leg, the ball pitches and spins away, clips the top of off. A delightful delivery

18:38 hrs IST

Pakistan have looked to press on after the run-rate

PAK have managed to step up a gear since the end of the 1st powerplay.

In 6 overs they’ve managed 35 runs (RR: 5.83 RPO), prior to that they were going at 2.50 RPO.

A look at the Manhattan at the end of the 16th over: -

18:34 hrs IST

These are taxing conditions

Malik and Babar have looked to rotate the strike, but the weather will take a toll on the players.

Spinners have to keep things tight as Pakistan look to increase the run-rate.

18:26 hrs IST

Oh dear, Pandya has collapsed after that delivery

He delivered that ball and then went down in a heap, he is being stretchered off the ground. Not very good for India, not very good for Pandya. Big jolt!

18:21 hrs IST

Good attacking play by Pakistan

They are keeping the bad balls away, rotating the strike, but are putting away loose deliveries. Not allowing the bowlers to string dot balls together. Pakistan have the momentum, as of now,

18:14 hrs IST

Oh dear, Dhoni has grassed the catch

Length ball outside off, Malik looks to run it away to third man, plays it too fine, Dhoni dives to his right, gets the gloves under the ball but then the ball slips out. Was not a very difficult chance, to be very honest

18:07 hrs IST

50-run stand between Malik-Azam

This is the first 50+ run stand for PAK v IND for the 3rd wicket in 8 intervening ODIs.

Last one was by Nasir Jamshed/Younis Khan at Chennai in 2012.

18:02 hrs IST

Spinners under pressure

Malik is a superb player against the spinners. He uses his feet so precisely, down the track to Kuldeep and then belts it high and mighty over deep mid-wicket

17:56 hrs IST

Shoaib Malik - The perennial thorn in India’s flesh

He is among the leading run-scorers for Pakistan against India in ODIs. With 1661 runs against India, the all-rounder is the third highest run-scorer among among Pakistan cricketers. In 12 matches in Asia Cup, Malik has scored 575 runs at an average of 63.88. And against India he has peeled off 307 runs at an average of 153.50.

17:49 hrs IST

End of the 1st powerplay

Brilliant start by the Indian bowlers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took charge of proceedings and sent back the openers. However, Malik and Babar Azam are looking to calm things down.

17:42 hrs IST

Sedate phase for Pakistan

Azam and Malik are trying to see off this new ball spell from Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah. They are looking to rotate the strike and share pressure.

Things will get easier as the match progresses.

17:35 hrs IST

Pakistan hitting back

Bhuvi has been very tight, but now Babar Azam takes charge. He waits for a length ball and then thumps it straight back. He then rocks back on the backfoot and the slams the next ball through the covers. Impeccable balance.

17:30 hrs IST

Bhuvi - the spearhead

Arnab Sen, Sports Editor - HT Digital: Bhuvneshwar Kumar showing that form is temporary and class is permanent. He has put his hand up on the big day. Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal is a huge boost for India. The impact he had in the Champions Trophy final meant India needed to remove him early to get the psychological advantage. Bhuvi’s beehive is immaculate. Everything has been bowled inside the stumps. And as I write this, Shoaib Malik has creamed one through the covers. This man waits for an Indo-Pak clash more than anyone else

17:21 hrs IST

Zaman departs, India on the charge

Short of a good length, Zaman wants to go for the pull, miscues it and the Chahal takes the catch at short mid-wicket, Danger man departs.

17:19 hrs IST

Bhuvneshwar has been brilliant with the new ball

1st innings in single digit score for Imam after three consecutive 50 plus scores. 5th time Bhuvneshwar has dismissed Pakistan opening batsman out of his 10 wickets against them in 8 ODIs.

Arnab Sen, Sports Editor - HT Digital: The two Indian pacers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, have been on the money so far. The accuracy of the bowlers forced Imam to play that weird shot and led to his downfall. Indians have raised their game for the occasion and this is already becoming a battle of attrition between two talented sides.

17:13 hrs IST

Bhuvi strikes

Well, what was that. Down the track, goes for the almighty heave and can only feather it back to MS Dhoni. So accurate, so calm, India draw first blood.

17:11 hrs IST

Maiden from Bumrah

The battle everyone has been talking about. Bumrah was persistent with his lines and lengths, no freebies and Fakhar has been forced to play it out

17:06 hrs IST

Sedate over, but Pakistan have been solid at the top of the order

Arnab Sen, Sports Editor - HT Digital: Pakistan’s top three batsmen have stratospheric batting averages. Fakhar Zaman has scored 1089 runs from 19 matches at an average of 72.60. While Imam-ul-Haq averages a whopping 74.24 from 10 matches, in which he has scored 4 centuries and a half-century (talk about conversions rates, phew!!). Babar Azam at number three has 2006 runs from 47 matches at an average of 54.21. This generation of Pakistani batsmen are making their presence felt at the international stage.

17:03 hrs IST

Bhuvneshwar with the ball

Solid line and length to begin with, back of a length angled in, Imam defends it back down the pitch.

All about gauging the pace of the surface, right now

17:00 hrs IST

So, we are good to go, oh yes, we are

The National Anthems have been belted out. The sun is basking in all its glory, not for the players though, the Indian team is in their huddle, all the shenanigans have been done away with.

Out walk Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq.

16:56 hrs IST

Khaleel Ahmed misses out despite being mighty impressive yesterday

Arnab Sen, Sports Editor - HT Digital: Dropping Khaleel Ahmed comes as a surprise after his good outing against Hong Kong. Perhaps the team management wanted to go with the experienced customers for a pressure cooker match like this one. But sometimes it helps to have young blood in your line-up, someone who is bereft of any baggage of past clashes. Hardik Pandya as the third seamer in these conditions is a weak option. Pakistan could well get a mammoth total on board. The middle overs will be crucial, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav need to pick wickets for India and not just contain the batsmen.

16:54 hrs IST

The major player battles

There are interesting subplots in the match and how they play out could well determine the eventual result of the match. We take a look at the important player battles in the match.

Jasprit Bumrah vs Fakhar Zaman will get us rolling.

16:47 hrs IST

Not a very high scoring ground

Average 1st innings total at Dubai International Stadium extrapolated over last 10 innings discarding rain affected matches and no results (Calculated before Asia Cup 2018).

16:45 hrs IST

Chahal - closing in on 50 ODI wickets

He needs only 2 wickets to complete 50 ODI wickets.

He will become the 37th Indian bowler, 14th spinner for India to take these many wickets.

16:40 hrs IST

Stat Attack

62.50%: Winning record for team fielding first is 62.50% at Dubai with 15 wins from 24 ODIs (All before Asia Cup 2018)

So finally, India have a reason to smile.

16:37 hrs IST

Shoaib Malik - the thorn in India’s flesh

Malik is among the leading run-scorers for Pakistan against India in ODIs. With 1661 runs against India, the all-rounder is the third highest run-scorer among among Pakistan cricketers.

Read about his impact here.

16:31 hrs IST

Toss - Pakistan win the toss and bat first

This is a good track and we will bat first, says Sarfraz.

“Would’ve batted first. Nevertheless we now know what we’re doing. Have to accept the fact that we were rusty against HK. They played well, showed great determination. To cross the line was a great deal. Fresh game today, guys looking forward to it. Two changes: Bumrah back, Pandya back too. Shardul and Khaleel miss out,” says Rohit Sharma.

16:22 hrs IST

Pitch report

No damage on the pitch, despite the game being played on the same track. It is a batting pitch, one that will have plenty of runs on offer, says Sunil Gavaskar.

16:18 hrs IST

It is all building up

16:13 hrs IST

Rohit Sharma - not very prolific against Pakistan

Rohit has never quite dominated the Pakistan bowling attack and has only managed to score 417 runs from 13 ODIs against Pakistan so far.

Read about the story here.

16:01 hrs IST

How will the Indian team line up?

Few players were rested for the match against Hong Kong, but they should be back to assume charge of proceedings.

Here is our predicted XI for the match.

15:45 hrs IST

The match preview

The game is the first between the sub-continent rivals since Pakistan thumped India by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy at The Oval in June last year.

Read the preview here.

15:31 hrs IST

The Big Game is here

It is India vs Pakistan and although both teams have qualified for the next round, this one promises to be a real humdinger. Dubai has been simmering with temperatures touching mid-40s, but who cares, the stadium will be jam packed and slogans will resonate all through.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the biggest match of the tournament so far.