There is a warm hug between Rohit Sharma and Wasim Akram It raised eyebrows in Colombo – and it comes amid the ongoing no-handshake dispute between India and Pakistan. The moment went viral as the two icons embraced and shared a laugh ahead of Sunday’s high-voltage clash, in stark contrast to the frosty on-field protocol between the two teams.Rohit was present at the venue as the brand ambassador of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He spent time around the Indian camp ahead of the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match, exchanging smiles, hugs and handshakes with players and support staff. The former captain looked relaxed, soaking up cricket’s biggest rivalry while offering encouragement ahead of the big night.
The highlight, however, was his interaction with Akram. The India great and Pakistan Perez legend shouldered the ceremonial responsibility of lifting the T20 World Cup trophy. The pair briefly chatted, posed for photos and embraced passionately before taking to the pitch at R Premadasa Stadium – a move that sparked mixed reactions online.The hug was particularly notable as it came against the backdrop of India continuing not to shake hands with the Pakistan team. In toss, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav The customary greetings to Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha were again not given, in line with what the Indian team has been doing since the Asia Cup. While the policy has been a focus of discussion in recent meetings, Rohit and Akram’s exchange was a reminder that the respect between players transcends contemporary tensions.Amid the tense atmosphere and packed stands awaiting another intense chapter in the rivalry, the embrace offered a softer image – of two legends from both sides of the border united by their shared history in the game.Once the game started, however, the enthusiasm was replaced by the ruthless efficiency of the defending champions. India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in the Group A match to advance to the Super Eights.How India beat PakistanIshan Kishan’s explosive 77 set the stage for India to score 175. The target of 176 always seems high under pressure and India’s bowlers ensured that the target remained unchanged.Hardik Pandya set the tone with a wicket-maiden start, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan’s four-ball duck after an untimely pull. Jasprit Bumrah then struck twice in succession – first deceiving Saim Ayub with a sharp inside arc and then using a gentle chip to move Salman Agha to mid-on. With the score at 13/3 in two overs, Pakistan’s chase was in tatters.Babar Azam was dismissed shortly after and Pakistan were 34/4. Usman Khan tried to mount a resistance with an enterprising No. 44, breaking the boundaries and temporarily boosting morale. However, the required rates kept rising and Indian spinners tightened the screws.Kuldeep Yadav played a vital economy role, applying pressure before Axar Patel’s breakthrough, stumping Usman when he threatened to rebuild. From there, wickets fell. Kuldeep dismissed Mohammad Nawaz, Tilak Varma bowled Shadab Khan with his first ball and Varun Chakaravarthy chipped in with two scalps.Pandya finally bowled Usman Tariq off mid-stump to end the match as Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs – their third-lowest total in T20 World Cup history.
