India, Feb. 16 -- On a tacky R Premadasa surface where the ball was holding and gripping, Pakistan bowled 18 overs of spin after opting to field, the most spin used in a single T20 World Cup match. The strategy aligned perfectly with Pakistan's blueprint for this ICC tournament, where they have thrived in Sri Lanka's slower conditions. Moreover, India's only visible weakness in their opening fixtures had been their vulnerability against spin.

Seven of the eight Indian batters who took the crease at Khettarama managed a combined 78 runs off 71 spin deliveries, with four dismissals to the variety, including Hardik Pandya's golden duck. Yet, by the end of 20 overs, India had surged to 175, which Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson later admitte...