24 overs, 117-1 and people here were saying India is in trouble? RRR of 8? Pakistan had NO chance.
Let me highlight the issues for Pakistan-
1) I said this last game and I will say it again- You cannot win a World Cup without believing you can chase. Ask any Pakistan fan here if they would be comfortable chasing 275 against this attack? NO. Pakistan have had their highlights either when their bowlers have skittled oppositions for less than 200 or batted first and put runs on the board. You have to believe you can chase anything.
The problem of this is two fold-
a) They don't have finishers. Not finishers on paper but finishers who can strike at 200 and have the calm and nerve of a Pandya/Dhoni/Maxwell/Buttler?
b) They have anchors, but when they play that role they don't have people down the order to make up the strike rate. Therefore, a Babar Azam has to be conscious of his S/R every time he bats otherwise the media will tear him to pieces.
2) They have an atrocious captain. Yes Pakistan won the CT, but it took a huge slice of luck to get to the finals and then an incredible innings and spell sealed the fate. It had nothing to do with captaincy. I said this then and got slandered for it.
3) Failure to identify their best bowlers. I mean I'm glad Junaid wasn't sharing the new ball with Amir and Hasan Ali is playing, let alone be in the squad.
4) Pakistan look to defend in the middle overs which was a weakness of India in 2017.
5) Pride on being called unpredictable. They're better than that and they need to get over this obsession of beating India in WC. I am OK with Pakistan beating us if we win the WC or even just play better cricket than us on the day because it's bound to happen some day.