IND vs PAK: Arshdeep Singh puts India on top after dismissing Babar Azam for golden duck

The stage was set and it was India who drew first blood in the blockbuster clash against Pakistan in front of a jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground as India's Arshdeep Singh sent back Pakistani skipper Babar Azam for a golden duck. He then returned in his next over to get rid of the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan.

The Men in Blue, led by Rohit Sharma, decided to bowl first against fierce rivals Pakistan in their first Super 12 encounter. Veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a stupendous opening over on a pitch, that had plenty to offer for the new ball bowlers. His second delivery of the match had Mohammad Rizwan withering in pain after the ball had struck his right thumb.

But it was his young opening bowling partner Arshdeep Singh, who caught the big fish, Babar Azam, plumb in front with his first delivery of the match. The Pakistani skipper challenged the on-field umpire's decision only to be left disappointed. Babar's dismissal provided a dream start to the Indians as it was his unbeaten partnership with Mohammad Rizwan in last year's edition, that took Pakistan to their first-ever victory against India in World Cup encounters.

Arshdeep Singh the game changer - dismissed Babar Azam on a golden duck. pic.twitter.com/NAAMA69kGn

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 23, 2022

Mohammad Rizwan fell prey to Arshdeep's well directed bouncer

Arshdeep had the incoming batter, Shan Masood, on the ropes with his prodigious seam moment and nearly had him run out in the same over. Bhuvneshwar followed with another splendid over before the young left-arm seamer returned to stamp his authority on the game by dismissing the in-form Mohammad Rizwan with a vicious bouncer.

Pakistan lost two of their best batters inside the powerplay as the Indian bowlers put together a scintillating opening spell with the new ball. Arshdeep, who was in the news for all the wrong reasons after his costly error against the Men in Green in the Asia Cup tournament last month, redeemed himself by getting rid of the two dangerous men in his first two overs.