Pakistan put on a masterclass in Dubai, winning by 10 wickets and finally breaking their losing streak against India in the ICC T20 World Cup. India's innings got off to a terrible start, sliding to 31 for 3 as Pakistan's precise bowling dismantled the trio of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav.
India eventually clawed their way back to a total of 151/7. However, when it was time to defend, the bowlers were overwhelmed by Pakistan's openers. The pitch failed to provide any assistance to the Indian attack, and they simply had no answer to the aggressive approach adopted by the Pakistani batting lineup.
The early dismissal of both openers set a negative tone for India, leaving them with only 6 runs on the board. While India hoped their experience would ensure a strong opening partnership, Afridi silenced Rohit with a swinging delivery. Shortly after, in the third over, KL Rahul caused a moment of panic when his bails were knocked off.
Poor decision-making with the bat cost India dearly. Suryakumar Yadav gave his wicket away playing a shot he didn't need to play. Similarly, Rishabh Pant looked steady with 60 runs off 10 overs before falling to a tricky ball from Shadab, and Ravindra Jadeja also struggled with poor shot selection.
The bowling department struggled significantly, failing to find the right line and length. The fast bowlers lacked the necessary variations to pressure the batsmen, and Varun Chakravarthy—usually a 'mystery' to opponents—conceded runs without taking a single wicket. Furthermore, the pitch flattened out in the second innings, making it nearly impossible for India to break through.