World Cup 2019, India v Pakistan: 3 reasons why Pakistan lost against India

The hype around the India-Pakistan clash was massive as the two Asian rivals geared up for an important clash as part of the 2019 World Cup. The unpredictability of Pakistan was the talking point as Sarfaraz Ahmed's team had good enough talent to defeat the Men in Blue.

However, things began to fall apart for Pakistan right from the toss when India was put in to bat on a flat track. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul made the most of the Pakistan bowlers' lack of variation as they put up a 136-run partnership and laid a solid platform to take India to a commendable total of 336/5 from 50 overs.

Pakistan's chase, barring a 104-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam had nothing to speak of as India registered a comfortable 89-run victory. India outclassed Pakistan in a world cup encounter, for a record seventh time.

While there was no sledging, no tight finish and no player battles, this encounter ended up as a lop-sided one as Pakistan failed to arrive on the scene that continued their poor run against India in World Cup encounters.

Here are three reasons why Pakistan lost the plot against India and handed their arch-rivals an easy victory in the end.

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#3 Dismal bowling performance

Shadab Khan had a poor show with the ball

When Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed elected to bowl first after winning the toss, the Pakistan seamers were expected to make the most of the overcast conditions on offer.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, only Mohammad Amir turned up as he cranked up the pace and hit the right lengths but was unable to pick wickets early on. Pakistan's ploy to attack the Indian batsmen with short deliveries failed miserably as they were deposited away easily by the opening duo.

With the pacers unable to make any incision, Sarfaraz turned to some spin but both the tweakers had a day to forget as they were ineffective. Shadab Khan, in particular, was taken for plenty as he leaked 61 runs from his nine overs while Imad Wasim finished with 0/49 from his 10 overs.

Rahul and Rohit Sharma went on to stitch an important 136-run partnership as the Pakistan bowlers looked hapless and bereft of ideas to pick up wickets in the middle overs.

#2 Shoddy fielding display

A wayward throw from Shadab Khan saved Rohit Sharma

In the 10th over of the match, Pakistan had a golden opportunity to effect a run-out and put some early pressure on India. KL Rahul nudged a length ball on to the leg-side and crossed over for an easy single.

Rohit Sharma, sensing an opportunity for a second came charging down the pitch, only to be sent back by Rahul. Stranded in the middle of the pitch, Rohit could have been sent back, only for Fakhar Zaman to throw it at the wrong end.

In what was one of the biggest mistakes on the field for Pakistan, Zaman's poor judgment was only one of the few other problems. Inside the ring, a number of lapses handed India some easy runs whilst the only saving grace for Pakistan was their catching.

Yet another opportunity was in the 11th over when Rahul tucked the ball on to the off-side and set off for a run. Rohit was slow to respond and could have been caught short despite the dive, but a wayward throw from Shadab Khan saved him in the end.

#1 Middle-order collapse

Sarfaraz Ahmed is castled

After the early wicket of Imam-ulHaq, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam stitched a brilliant 104-run partnership together in decent time and kept Pakistan in the game. The duo batted sensibly and went after the poor deliveries from the Indian bowlers.

Kuldeep Yadav proved to be the game changer as he shattered the woodwork of Babar Azam with a beautiful delivery and enticed Fakhar Zaman into a sweep shot with a loopy delivery as the southpaw top-edged the ball to Yuzvendra Chahal at short fine leg.

In the next over, Hardik Pandya got rid of Mohammad Hafeez with a sliding delivery down leg stump before Shoaib Malik was sent back by a rising ball outside off-stump as the veteran edged the ball on to his stumps.

Pakistan lost three wickets in just two overs and despite Sarfaraz Khan putting up a 36-run partnership with Imad Wasim, the Men in Green were completely outplayed in the middle overs and could be termed as the major reason as to why they lost the game.