In the aftermath of Pakistan’s daunting chase of a 357-run target, which left them at 138 for eight in 32 overs, Afridi acknowledged India’s comprehensive superiority in all aspects of the game. He also extended his congratulations to Virat Kohli for achieving the remarkable milestone of 13,000 ODI runs and praised KL Rahul’s performance.

Despite the disheartening loss, Afridi encouraged the Pakistan team to bounce back strongly in their upcoming Super Four match against Sri Lanka.

Afridi’s message read, “Winning and losing are intrinsic to competition, but failing to put up a fight, lacking the will to win, is a disappointment. This echoes my sentiments from an earlier tweet. India displayed top-notch performance both on the field and with their batting and bowling. Congratulations to @imVkohli for reaching another significant milestone in ODI runs. Your partnership with KL Rahul was well-executed. Keep your spirits high, boys; you have the potential to perform better in the next match.”

Following the game, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, commended KL Rahul and Virat Kohli for their exceptional batting. He conceded that Pakistan’s inability to form partnerships and the regular loss of wickets were pivotal factors contributing to their defeat.

Babar stated, “They had a well-thought-out plan for our bowlers. KL Rahul and Virat executed it brilliantly. Jasprit and Siraj bowled exceptionally in the first ten overs, swinging the ball effectively. Yes, we lost wickets consecutively, and we couldn’t establish partnerships.”