India v Pakistan was the marquee game of the league phase of the Asia Cup, with a Saturday primetime slot, and there was plenty of hype in the build-up.
People offer prayers in Varanasi ahead of #IndvsPak match in Asia Cup T20 pic.twitter.com/N2THuf9MIF
— ANI (@ANI_news) 27 February 2016
Tonight our part of the world stops for 3 hours! Two strong sides. Two strong countries. The ultimate clash begins #IndvsPak #AsiaCupT20
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) 27 February 2016
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MARRY HIM!#IndvsPak #AsiaCupT20 #PakvInd #AsiaCup— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) 27 February 2016
The rivalry between the two teams may be fierce, but two of the sides’ most famous fans were friendly before the game.
#AsiaCupT20 : When #PakistaniChacha helped #Sudhir paint his head with Indian flag colourshttps://t.co/NNaRyIOP5z pic.twitter.com/5cZIuKH8il
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) 27 February 2016
Virender Sehwag had a customary tweet about his friend Ashish Nehra.
Hope Nehra Ji will take early wkts n give good start to the team .
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) 27 February 2016
Nehra did, with wickets in his first over. That brought in debutant Khurram Manzoor, an unusual selection for the national team given that he was passed over by the franchises in the recent Pakistan Super League.
How crazy that the only person in Pakistan who thinks that Khurram Manzoor should bat above Umar Akmal is the coach. #INDvPAK
— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) 27 February 2016
Manzoor had a torrid time in the middle, before being comically run-out following a mix-up with Shoaib Malik.
The Pakistan Cricket Team clearly still has Inzamam-Ul-Haq’s blessings.#IndvsPak #RunOut
— The UnReal Times (@TheUnRealTimes) 27 February 2016
Malik didn’t last long either, caught behind in the next over as Pakistan slid to 35 for 4.
Double fault by Shoaib Malik #IndvsPak #AsiaCupT20
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) 27 February 2016
The run-out argument can now carry on in the dressing room. #IndvsPak
— Moulin (@Moulinparikh) 27 February 2016
There was no recovery for Pakistan after that collapse as they tumbled to 83 all out.
RIP television sets in Pakistan. #IndvsPak
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) 27 February 2016
It looked like a drab one-sided encounter … until Mohammad Amir got the ball. Amir’s burst stunned India’s batsmen and wowed the experts.
What a spell from Amir. What a game!!This is unreal cricket #IndvsPak
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) 27 February 2016
If you needed to know, Mohd Amir can bowl!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 27 February 2016
Amir playing as if BCCI banned him for five years. Seriously dude, we had nothing to do with it. Chill! #INDvsPAK
— Vishnu Prasad (@visheprasad) 27 February 2016
Even author Amitava Kumar was moved to tweet about the cricket by Amir.
Mohammad Amir deserves a Booker for his Dostoeveskian novel of sin and redemption.
— Amitava Kumar (@amitavakumar) 27 February 2016
India were at a shaky 8 for 3, but once again Virat Kohli took charge of a chase.
Virat Kohli and Chasing Targets is better than Rum and Coke.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) 27 February 2016
Kohli’s calm 49 earned him the Man of the Match, and added to his solid limited-overs record against Pakistan.
Virat Kohli vs Pak
ODIs: 10 inns, 373, ave 41.44, S/r 89.87, 2 100s
T20Is: 5 inns, 199, ave 66.33, S/r 112.42, 1 50#AsiaCupT20#IndvsPak— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) 27 February 2016
Virat Kohli will play many big innings but he will remember this one with great warmth. He showed his class today. Again.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 27 February 2016
The Mohammad Amir Show…The Virat Kohli Show…and in between we had a game between India & Pakistan. #IndvsPak #AsiaCupT20
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 27 February 2016
Kohli was dismissed with India needing eight to win. MS Dhoni was at hand to hit the winning boundary.
“Bend it like Beckham. End it like Dhoni.” #IndvsPak
— WeAreHyderabad/Visu (@WeAreHyderabad) 27 February 2016
Cue celebrations from Indian fans.
Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Fans celebrate after India beat Pakistan by five wickets. #IndvsPak #AsiaCupT20 pic.twitter.com/2Mrx82Q9Pj
— ANI (@ANI_news) 27 February 2016
Siddarth Ravindran is an assitant editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo