Not over yet

Not over yet

After the defeat at the hands of its archrival, India must spring back like it did earlier in the year.

The tables have turned after what seemed, perhaps, Pakistan's most ruthless dominance over Team India in the limited-overs cricket history. So much so that Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said the nation's win against India was a “victory for Islam” and that Sunday’s match was the “final for Pakistan”. Former captain and the current Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan said the win was the first one and the most magnificent one. The thumping 10-wicket victory in Dubai was indeed very convincing and the players deserve all hail. And with that, Pakistan finally registered a win in a World Cup match against India and it cannot be reversed, is what’s hard to swallow for many Indian fans. India has so far registered 12 wins in the World Cup — seven in ODIs and five in T20s — against Pakistan and, with Sunday’s emphatic win, Pakistan got off the mark and registered its first victory over India. But records are made only to be broken in this glorious game of uncertainties and what should not break is the cricketing spirit.

The young Team India made cricketing history’s one of the most defiant comebacks in 2021 — first against Australia where it went from 36 all-out in the first innings to a 2-1 series win and then in the series against England. Though there is a stark difference in the two cricketing formats, fighting spirit is what keeps the wheel running. Having said that, all eyes are on the Indian side that will go head-to-head against the Black Caps on October 31, their first outing after the humiliation at the hands of Pakistan. The hopes are high and the pressure is higher; therefore, the team must learn the right lessons and move on. Meanwhile, in what seemed a rare sight in an Indo-Pak match, India captain Virat Kohli showed exemplary sportsmanship as he hugged Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam for their impressive innings after the game. The gesture was certainly the most beautiful moment of the match and the skipper was highly praised on social media. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and BJP leader Gautam Gambhir said that celebrating Pakistan’s victory is shameful. However, what’s wrong in celebrating sportsmanship, that too, after a defeat like this? Cricket, or any sport for that matter, can bring peoples together. It is not war, nor should it lead to one.