PatilPulse

When Kohli Took Control, Gambhir Fell Early — and Pakistan Felt the Weight of a Pattern All roads lead back to Colombo — and not just geographically. As India and Pakistan prepare to collide once again at the R. Premadasa Stadium, this isn’t just another T20 World Cup group-stage fixture. It’s a return to a psychological theatre that first tilted decisively in 2012. Back then, India didn’t just win. They reinforced a structural truth that has haunted Pakistan in this format for over a decade. And the question now isn’t simply who wins on Sunday . It’s this: Are we watching history repeat itself — or are we witnessing the first real crack in India’s long-standing T20 dominance? The 2012 Colombo Script: Control, Chaos, and Kohli A Surprise Wicket. A Painful Duck. And a Chase That Felt Inevitable. In the 2012 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash in Colombo, India didn’t overpower Pakistan. They out-structured them. Pakistan were bundled out for 128 in 19.4 overs — not by raw pace or theatrical agg...

When rivalry spills beyond the pitch days before India vs Pakistan Just when you thought an India vs Pakistan World Cup clash couldn’t get any more intense, former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir added fresh fuel to the fire. His target? India’s young opener Abhishek Sharma — currently recovering from illness and still not fully certain to feature in Sunday’s blockbuster. Amir didn’t hold back. He labelled Abhishek “just a slogger,” questioned his technique, and suggested his game is high-risk with limited technical foundation. In a rivalry that rarely needs extra drama, those words landed heavily. But beyond the headline-grabbing quotes, there’s a deeper conversation here. Is It Just Mind Games — Or Is There a Point? Let’s start with the obvious: this could simply be classic pre-match psychological warfare. India vs Pakistan fixtures are as much about mental pressure as they are about cricketing skill. A sharp comment here, a bold prediction there — it’s all part of the theatre. But dism...

Two wins, yes — but are the warning signs louder than the scorecards suggest? India have done what champions are supposed to do — win. Two matches, two victories. On paper, it looks smooth. But scratch beneath the surface, and this T20 World Cup campaign feels oddly fragile. Half-centuries from Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Hardik Pandya suggest solidity. Yet the swagger that dismantled South Africa and New Zealand in pre-tournament series seems muted. India aren’t dominating — they’re surviving patches of chaos. And in tournaments like this, survival without control can be a dangerous habit. The Mini-Collapses No One Can Ignore When 77 for 6 isn’t just a blip Against the United States, India stumbled to 77 for 6. Let that sink in. A world champion side, on home soil, wobbling against a team still finding its feet on the global stage. Credit where it’s due — Shadley van Schalkwyk exploited the conditions brilliantly. But here’s the uncomfortable question: was that collapse more a...

Being left out of a World Cup squad is usually a warning sign. In Shubman Gill ’s case, it might just be a pause button—at least if you believe Michael Clarke . According to the former World Cup-winning skipper, Gill’s omission from India’s T20 plans is less about rejection and more about timing, with a bigger leadership role quietly waiting for him after the tournament. It’s a prediction that sounds bold on the surface—but also exposes how complicated India’s T20 thinking has become. A Shock Omission That Wasn’t Entirely Surprising Gill missing out on the T20 World Cup squad raised eyebrows, but the numbers offer an uncomfortable explanation. Since returning from a highly successful Test tour of England, his T20 returns fell off a cliff—291 runs in his last 15 T20I innings. For a format that now demands instant impact, that’s not a dip; it’s a red flag. With India overflowing with top-order options, the selectors—led by Ajit Agarkar —chose immediacy over reputation. From that narrow W...

  In modern cricket, staying at the top is often harder than getting there. Virat Kohli learned that the hard way as his return to the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings lasted just a week. Seven days after reclaiming the crown, the throne was taken—not by a slump, but by an opponent who simply did it better when it mattered. That opponent was Daryl Mitchell , whose India tour turned from competitive to historic, rewriting not just scorecards but the power dynamics of ODI batting supremacy. A Comeback That Felt Symbolic, Not Secure Kohli’s rise back to world No.1 was emotional. After four years of waiting, a fluent 93 against New Zealand felt like a statement—classic timing, control, and authority. For many fans, it seemed like order had been restored. But rankings reward accumulation, not symbolism. And while Kohli was excellent, he wasn’t overwhelming. The Mitchell Takeover India Didn’t See Coming Mitchell didn’t just score runs—he dominated . Across three ODIs, he piled u...

  Reaching 100 T20 internationals is supposed to be a celebration. For Suryakumar Yadav , it arrives wrapped in applause, anxiety, and uncomfortable questions. As India prepare to face New Zealand , this landmark feels less like a victory lap and more like a pressure test—one that could define India’s T20 World Cup direction. The Blueprint That Changed India’s T20 Thinking Few batters have altered India’s T20 mindset the way Suryakumar has. Arriving late to international cricket, he didn’t waste time justifying his selection. He rewrote the manual—360-degree shots, fearless intent, and a refusal to play within traditional limits. His numbers tell part of the story: 2,788 T20I runs, an average north of 35, and a strike rate that screams modern T20 dominance. Four T20I centuries—second only to Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma —cement his place among the format’s elite. For a stretch, he wasn’t just India’s best T20 batter; he was the global benchmark. Late Bloomer, Fast Burner Suryaku...