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Surprised by defeat? Pakistan lost to the best team in the world

Next meeting between the Asian/World Champions & Pakistan is in February 2026 at the Premadasa in Colombo.

Wonder how will that match go down. India will be more or less have the same side with Pandya in the team, Pakistan will most probably have Babar & Rizwan in the team & no Rauf.
 
Next meeting between the Asian/World Champions & Pakistan is in February 2026 at the Premadasa in Colombo.

Wonder how will that match go down. India will be more or less have the same side with Pandya in the team, Pakistan will most probably have Babar & Rizwan in the team & no Rauf.
India has 15 games before that. Team will take shape.

I see Gill getting the axe if he doesn't perform though.

Maybe SKY as well, who knows.
 
This statement is a bit of a cop out because it completely ignores how Pakistan actually played in the final. And how they showed the mentality of a minnow team during key junctures of the match.
 
Next meeting between the Asian/World Champions & Pakistan is in February 2026 at the Premadasa in Colombo.

Wonder how will that match go down. India will be more or less have the same side with Pandya in the team, Pakistan will most probably have Babar & Rizwan in the team & no Rauf.
I don't see Babar and Rizwan both playing together in the T20 team for Pakistan but one of them should be the part of the team and after watching the recent struggle of Haris, Rizwan looks like the man who will be back in the Paksitan T20I team soon.
 
This statement is a bit of a cop out because it completely ignores how Pakistan actually played in the final. And how they showed the mentality of a minnow team during key junctures of the match.
Mentality won't overcome the gulf in skill. The batting line-up collapsed because they did not have the ability to take on decent spinners on that pitch, nothing to do with mentality. They just don't have the skill that top players do.

Haris Rauf got smashed because he doesn't have the skill to bowl on these pitches against top batters. He will return with the same figures 9/10 times in these conditions against India and the SENA countries. That's nothing to do with mentality, it's just lack of skill and ability.
 
Mentality won't overcome the gulf in skill. The batting line-up collapsed because they did not have the ability to take on decent spinners on that pitch, nothing to do with mentality. They just don't have the skill that top players do.

Haris Rauf got smashed because he doesn't have the skill to bowl on these pitches against top batters. He will return with the same figures 9/10 times in these conditions against India and the SENA countries. That's nothing to do with mentality, it's just lack of skill and ability.
Yup. They didn't want to get to a below par score by slowing down against spin like they did in the second game.

That Abhishek-Gill partnership scarred them so much that they just kept going to try to get to 190ish.
 
Mentality won't overcome the gulf in skill. The batting line-up collapsed because they did not have the ability to take on decent spinners on that pitch, nothing to do with mentality. They just don't have the skill that top players do.

Haris Rauf got smashed because he doesn't have the skill to bowl on these pitches against top batters. He will return with the same figures 9/10 times in these conditions against India and the SENA countries. That's nothing to do with mentality, it's just lack of skill and ability.
Losing 9-33 has very little to do with skill, but has everything to do with mentality. Any half decent side would have realized that 170 on that pitch in a final would have been a good total. But Pakistan's batsmen did not recognize that, or the fact that there was no point in trying to bash Kuldeep or Varun when they were in their final overs. Even by playing unskillful cricket and going at just about run a ball after the 10th over, Pakistan could have posted a good total

Even when Pakistan were bowling, Agha could have easily continued with the spinners and bowled Rauf for one less over seeing how much better spinners were doing on that surface. Not only did he not bowl out Saim but he changed Abrar's end too by bringing Rauf on, minimizing whatever pressure Abrar was building from his end.

That's just lack of match awareness, nobody is going to teach you that
 
India has 15 games before that. Team will take shape.

I see Gill getting the axe if he doesn't perform though.

Maybe SKY as well, who knows.
Yes Gill should go, he has immense talent but he should not be in the T20 team. Samson should open. Rinku/Shreyas can play in place of Gill. Surya will be back in form on flat decks of Australia & India. He has led this team very well, India needs Surya at the World Cup.
 
I don't see Babar and Rizwan both playing together in the T20 team for Pakistan but one of them should be the part of the team and after watching the recent struggle of Haris, Rizwan looks like the man who will be back in the Paksitan T20I team soon.
Babar-Rizwan are much better compared to Salman-Haris.
 
Babar-Rizwan are much better compared to Salman-Haris.
To be honest they don't have any proper T20 batsman. They just have to play this Farhan and Hasan. Fakhar looked way too unconvincing. Lot of edges, half connection. He made runs. But he looked laborious to make those runs. He should be released. So they just have to retain those two build the rest of the team. Even they are not that good in comparison. But i don't think they have anyone better than those two.
 
AS an indian fan, i would say good game to Pak. The finals was wonderful viewing, the fight and intensity shown by pak was wonderful.
I feel this is what pak team needs moving on, to display this level and no doubt they can turn around a few close game if they do this , in their favour.
 
Mentality won't overcome the gulf in skill. The batting line-up collapsed because they did not have the ability to take on decent spinners on that pitch, nothing to do with mentality. They just don't have the skill that top players do.

Haris Rauf got smashed because he doesn't have the skill to bowl on these pitches against top batters. He will return with the same figures 9/10 times in these conditions against India and the SENA countries. That's nothing to do with mentality, it's just lack of skill and ability.
Pakistan did dominate India for the majority of the game. There’s more than just the skill gap, the temperament to handle pressure, the courage to take responsibility and show up for key moments, that’s what really separates the two teams.
 
Pakistan did dominate India for the majority of the game. There’s more than just the skill gap, the temperament to handle pressure, the courage to take responsibility and show up for key moments, that’s what really separates the two teams.
I do not understand this. How ?

Yes Pakistan had a slight upper hand in the first 10-11 overs of their innings but all that was blown away in the next 10. Pakistan made a below par score.

And no, contrary to what you think, India were not under the pump during the chase. They planned it to perfection. The max threshold for the RRR was 10 and they kept it under that at all times during the chase. The focus was on taking it deep with sufficient hitting left. Samson and Tilak ensured this. Once it came to the last 5 or 6 , it was India's game all the way with a RRR below 10 and with likes of Dube, Rinku and Axar yet to bat and of course with a well -set Tilak too.

Had Pakistan scored 170, India would have probably upped the ante slightly earlier.

The only way Pakistan would have really put India under pressure was if they had scored over 190.
 
Pakistan did dominate India for the majority of the game. There’s more than just the skill gap, the temperament to handle pressure, the courage to take responsibility and show up for key moments, that’s what really separates the two teams.
Bangladesh also dominated pakistan until they started dropping catches. In T20 any team control a specific passage of play against any team. That is nature of the beast.
 
Bangladesh also dominated pakistan until they started dropping catches. In T20 any team control a specific passage of play against any team. That is nature of the beast.
Bangladesh never looked to win for more than half the game. It wasn't just a passage of game. Pakistan looked to win till the very last over.
 
Bangladesh never looked to win for more than half the game. It wasn't just a passage of game. Pakistan looked to win till the very last over.
Talking about first half. Pakistan was in danger of getting bowled out for less than 80 runs. Also towards the end Rishad was smacking.
 
I do not understand this. How ?

Yes Pakistan had a slight upper hand in the first 10-11 overs of their innings but all that was blown away in the next 10. Pakistan made a below par score.

And no, contrary to what you think, India were not under the pump during the chase. They planned it to perfection. The max threshold for the RRR was 10 and they kept it under that at all times during the chase. The focus was on taking it deep with sufficient hitting left. Samson and Tilak ensured this. Once it came to the last 5 or 6 , it was India's game all the way with a RRR below 10 and with likes of Dube, Rinku and Axar yet to bat and of course with a well -set Tilak too.

Had Pakistan scored 170, India would have probably upped the ante slightly earlier.

The only way Pakistan would have really put India under pressure was if they had scored over 190.
I don't think so. Pakistan committed critical errors which have been highlighted on this thread. The "well set" Tilak got away with a run out opportunity. The alone made a huge difference in the outcome of the game. Indians here can all act like they are the superior team (which they are comparitively) but the outcome of the game wasn't decided until the last over.
 
Talking about first half. Pakistan was in danger of getting bowled out for less than 80 runs. Also towards the end Rishad was smacking.
Easier to defend than to chase. No doubt the score was below par but which the start Pakistan had and how well the spinners were bowling, it wasn't a straightforward chase for India. You can provide all kind of explanations in hindsight now since we all know the outcome of the game and we can all come up with if and but scenarios. It doesn't change how Pakistan always lose the psychological battle even when they have an upper hand.
 
Easier to defend than to chase. No doubt the score was below par but which the start Pakistan had and how well the spinners were bowling, it wasn't a straightforward chase for India. You can provide all kind of explanations in hindsight now since we all know the outcome of the game and we can all come up with if and but scenarios. It doesn't change how Pakistan always lose the psychological battle even when they have an upper hand.
You could say the same about Afghanistan choking against Australia when they were even far more convincing situation. India also dropped several catches against pakistan in the last match. They still waltzed through to victory. If you look at win probability percentage Bangladesh was controllig mostly then missed it. In India/Pakistan case Pakistan had a couple of moments where they had upper hands. Once when they started well with ball. After that one over from Rauf game completely changed.

eewrewewwe.jpg
 
You could say the same about Afghanistan choking against Australia when they were even far more convincing situation. India also dropped several catches against pakistan in the last match. They still waltzed through to victory. If you look at win probability percentage Bangladesh was controllig mostly then missed it. In India/Pakistan case Pakistan had a couple of moments where they had upper hands. Once when they started well with ball. After that one over from Rauf game completely changed.

eewrewewwe.jpg
Well I don't know what to say to your win probability graph. That's the dumbest argument one could come up with.

I do agree things tilted in Indias favour after the Rauf over but Pak pulled it back again with the Shaheen and Faheem over. Tilak run out chance was a big moment.
 
I don't think so. Pakistan committed critical errors which have been highlighted on this thread. The "well set" Tilak got away with a run out opportunity. The alone made a huge difference in the outcome of the game. Indians here can all act like they are the superior team (which they are comparitively) but the outcome of the game wasn't decided until the last over.
So essentially you are basing your entire argument around 1 run out chance.

Hypothetically, had he got run out, India would have changed plans accordingly. Remember, they had still Rinku who avg 42 with a SR of 162 in T20Is. The required run rate was 10 per over from 6 overs which was very much doable with Dube, Rinku and Axar.

Rinku has lost only 1 match while chasing. This was vs Zim. In all the other chases where he batted, he ensured that he stayed till the end not out and won India the match.
 
Well I don't know what to say to your win probability graph. That's the dumbest argument one could come up with.

I do agree things tilted in Indias favour after the Rauf over but Pak pulled it back again with the Shaheen and Faheem over. Tilak run out chance was a big moment.
Been there done that. You think that equation was harder than this?

Screenshot-2025-10-02-144423.jpg
 
Been there done that. You think that equation was harder than this?

Screenshot-2025-10-02-144423.jpg
That's not a comparable equation whatsoever and my point still stands about Pakistan losing in key moments like the Varma run out. Go watch that replay again. You have no business playing international cricket if you can't do the basics right.

I will reiterate my point here since its seems to be getting missed- it's not just the skill gap between Pak and India. It doesn't matter if India fields their worst team, Pakistan will always find a way to lose to India. Pakistan just can't handle the pressure of playing against India.
 
That's not a comparable equation whatsoever and my point still stands about Pakistan losing in key moments like the Varma run out. Go watch that replay again. You have no business playing international cricket if you can't do the basics right.

I will reiterate my point here since its seems to be getting missed- it's not just the skill gap between Pak and India. It doesn't matter if India fields their worst team, Pakistan will always find a way to lose to India. Pakistan just can't handle the pressure of playing against India.
If Bangladesh had held on to the catches Pakistan would not have been in the final :)
 
If Bangladesh had held on to the catches Pakistan would not have been in the final :)

Irrelevent. Pakistan can lose to Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and pretty much any no name team. Pakistan can also beat Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa on any given day. Fluke or whatever - but they can't win against India no matter what. Even if they become the best side in the world.
 
Irrelevent. Pakistan can lose to Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and pretty much any no name team. Pakistan can also beat Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa on any given day. Fluke or whatever - but they can't win against India no matter what. Even if they become the best side in the world.
That may be true in the past. But in the present India beats most teams even from losing situation. They find a way. Not sure how. They find it.
 
That may be true in the past. But in the present India beats most teams even from losing situation. They find a way. Not sure how. They find it.
Yeah Indian team is on a roll. Can't argue with stats. Even when they look weak, they find a way to win. The only team that can challenge India at the moment is Australia

But this doesn't excuse Pakistan's loss.
 
Yeah Indian team is on a roll. Can't argue with stats. Even when they look weak, they find a way to win. The only team that can challenge India at the moment is Australia
.
But this doesn't excuse Pakistan's loss
Agree with the bold. India may be probably having the best run among all teams in limited overs cricket history, but it does not excuse missing simple run out or losing 9 wickets in 30 odd runs when playing against India. That was not due to Indian brillance, it was was due to very poor cricket from Pakistan. Pakistan can't control how India plays, but surely control how they play. Before some one says that India bowled well to take 33/9, nah. Bowled well but not that well, it was mostly Pakistani batsmen losing their mind collectively. Harris had no business missing that run out.

I see many posters are saying that run would have not changed much, I beg to differ. Getting a set batsman out and having a new batsman can always create some oppurtunities. I am not saying that Pakistan would have surely won if taken that run out wicket, but chances would have surely improved.
 
Agree with the bold. India may be probably having the best run among all teams in limited overs cricket history, but it does not excuse missing simple run out or losing 9 wickets in 30 odd runs when playing against India. That was not due to Indian brillance, it was was due to very poor cricket from Pakistan. Pakistan can't control how India plays, but surely control how they play. Before some one says that India bowled well to take 33/9, nah. Bowled well but not that well, it was mostly Pakistani batsmen losing their mind collectively. Harris had no business missing that run out.

I see many posters are saying that run would have not changed much, I beg to differ. Getting a set batsman out and having a new batsman can always create some oppurtunities. I am not saying that Pakistan would have surely won if taken that run out wicket, but chances would have surely improved.


This is what I have been trying to say here but you summarized it really well.

The brain farts of the Pakistan team was due to the inability to handle pressure not because of the lack of skill. The psychological aspect is what always brings Pakistan down even when they are sailing. When was the last time Pakistan team won against India from a tight position? or any other big team for that matter
 
This is like offering elvavator option to a geriratric patient to reach the top floor of a building but insteaded he decides to take the stairs and then complains after breaking his back half way.

Indian team presented so many opportunties both in the second and 3rd game but Pakistan team squandered every opportunity they had. As if they were insistent on losing.
 
Indian team presented so many opportunties both in the second and 3rd game but Pakistan team squandered every opportunity they had. As if they were insistent on losing.

Indian team presented opportunities to Oman, Srilanka as well. In fact the 2 Pakistan games minus the final, UAE and Bangladesh were easy one sided.
 
This is what I have been trying to say here but you summarized it really well.

The brain farts of the Pakistan team was due to the inability to handle pressure not because of the lack of skill. The psychological aspect is what always brings Pakistan down even when they are sailing. When was the last time Pakistan team won against India from a tight position? or any other big team for that matter

These collapses didn't happen by accident. They are trying to create a modern-day power-packed batting unit by loading sloggers all all-rounders. But going aggressively without losing your wicket requires a certain amount of skill, range, and intelligence. Pakistan has had several collapses in this year alone in its quest to become a "dangerous batting unit". If they continue this approach, these collapses will happen over and over against different oppositions. Pakistan's think tank has to understand its limitations and work within those limitations.

Having said that, India was matching Pakistan's harakiri up the order. None of the wickets Pakistan took were wicket-taking deliveries. RRR was what? barely 7 an over. They could have won just by playing ground shots. Then they put a pause on it played conventionally.
 
There is no point in having the best of skills when you don't have the mental strength and if you choke under pressure. That is what Hussain Talats shot, Salman Ali Aghas shot, Hussain Talats dropped catch, Mohd Haris missed run out, Haris Raufs mis directed yorkers, misdirected slower deliveries, failure to follow Hessons instructions represented. When you can't handle pressure, you forget to perform your primary skills and basics on the occasion. Players who have time and time again proven that they are bottlers should eventually be dropped and put on a do not ever pick and try again list.
 
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