Pakistan vs India, Final, ICC Champions Trophy, 2017 - CommentaryPAK vs IND, Final, ICC Champions Trophy, 2017 - Commentary

Harsha Bhogle: After all has been said, you have to admit that ODI cricket, if provided a context, can still be exciting and good to watch.

Harsha Bhogle: Congratulations Pakistan. Worthy winners after a dramatic comeback to the Champions Trophy.

Harsha Bhogle: Pakistan took time to realise what Sarfraz Ahmed could provide them. He has been a fine leader. Got his team to back themselves.

Harsha Bhogle: Pakistan has produced some brilliant performances post that Birmingham game. This, though, is as stunning as it gets.

Harsha Bhogle: It is now two years to the ICC World Cup. The preparation should begin and team selections henceforth should reflect that.

sah: "Tremendous" -- Yes, that 7-1 win over Pakistan indeed was!

Mulayam: "Thanks goodness I'm not able to see this tragedy; load shedding at home" -- That as India sheds the disguise of a strong batting line-up

shikhar: "going to study"

santosh kumar singh: "Moral of the story - Bat first when you win the toss" -- And in a final too. Bit if there's one team that can chase it from here, it's India

Aryan: "Now it is high time for Yuvraj to play and show his game" -- That last boundary showed it. Smacked his class right into our faces

Abubakar: "@Srinivas, You are right. It's left-handers' day, but it's left armer's day too!"

Srinivas: "It's left-handers' turn today! Amir isn't really troubling Yuvi and Dhawan" -- Doesn't need to, as long as they trouble themselves

sharma ji: "India never chased a big total without an effective contribution from Kohli! -- Oh, you weren't at Lord's in 2002

Ali: "@Nayan. How about Hasan Ali?" -- Is that you, Hasan?

Nayan Jain: "Is this is the platform for Dhoni and Yuvi to showcase their talents again?" -- And for Amir, too

Mohan: "Indian fans can switch to hockey. India 4-0 up."

Harsha Bhogle: Okay then, someone will have to play a ridiculous innings to pull this off.

Vimal:  "How big was that Rohit Sharma duck?" -- Well, they say it weighed 77 pounds, which is enough to feed say three men, thrice

Harsha Bhogle: Big big blow for India. Amir showing why he is a pedigreed cricketer!

PetiP: "Two games being played out here - Pakistan vs Bhuvneshwar and Pakistan vs the rest."

Harsha Bhogle: That didn't just hit the stumps, it clobbered them!!

E Jagadeesh: "Mohammad Hafeez doing a Yuvi from the last match."

Vicky: "Bhuvi has been phenomenal. Wish he had some support at the other end."

Harsha Bhogle: 3 overs left. Anything under 340 bonus for India. Pakistan have kept their heads and so their only opponents have been the opposition.

Saketh: "Where are all the yorkers and pace variations?" -- Currently being couriered into the stands

Harsha Bhogle: Didn't know Pakistan had two players called Mohd Hafeez! This is not the Professor!!

Shikha: "Wonder where Shoaib Malik learnt that tennis forehand from?" -- Not a bad time to emulate the 'source' though

Akshay: "Maybe even the Pakistani management follows Cricbuzz and sends in a left hander." -- We are omnipresent aren't we

Harsha Bhogle: Had to be Sarfraz. Lots of overs left. Had to be him at No 4 or 5.

Harsha Bhogle: Gamble this to bring Kedar Jadhav at this late stage. But Kohli needs a couple of overs desperately.

Harsha Bhogle: 10-0-53-1 on this surface is excellent from Pandya

AR: "Is Kedar in disguise?" -- Yes, he's just taken it off

Harsha Bhogle: This is clever from Pakistan. One batsman taking the lead, the other playing himself in. Haven't had two new batsmen in.

SanSathish: "Can't understand Kohli's strategies today. He bowled the full quota of an injured bowler who has conceded more than 7 rpo and has not used any part-timer. And now bowling with Bumrah again inside 40 overs is surprising."

Harshal: "If Pakistan has more left handers, India need more Kedar Jadhavs." -- No, not as fielders when Kohli refuses to bowl even one of them

Harsha Bhogle: That is not just a good catch from Jadeja. It is an astonishing catch from one of the best fielders in the world.

Harsha Bhogle: Ashwin playing with a strapped knee and bowling out. Might be a good idea to send Rahane out to field after that!!

Gugs: "Moral of the story - Pakistan need more left handers when they play India." -- Cannot argue with such nailing stats

Harsha Bhogle: What is it with left handed openers from Pakistan against India? Saeed Anwar, Salman Butt, even Nasir Jamshed, now Fakhar Zaman

Harsha Bhogle: Have to admire this century from Fakhar Zaman. Tense game, big occasion and he has shown he has arrived.

Harsha Bhogle: You never know what works. We thought Kohli might have to slip in Hardik Pandya's overs somewhere but he's been really good.

Krishnakant Raj: Dear Cricbuzz, we all are a part of this historic game and we are celebrating for everything . Even you are a part of this match but not like us because whenever something happens we shout but you start typing. Isn't this weird?? you should also take rest for some match.**Tears stream down your face**

Tejas: Everyone prepares for a Big Match. Players, fans , umpires. Everyone. Final. INDvsPAK. How big can it get? Would be interesting to know how you guys prepare. Extra servers? Back-up comm crew? Any insights for us on this?- Servers and all are the technical part and I would be inviting some flak if I tried to learn those. But as far as the commentary team is concerned, we always watch each other's back not only for this game but any game that we cover. Besides that, we make sure that the coffee machine is always crowded. Caffeine brother, that is my (our) fuel.

Harsha Bhogle: Fakhar Zaman needed to ride his luck. He is now. This is an awesome surface to bat on.

Bharat: Fakhar Zaman would a bit nervous for over or two with that guilt feeling for the run out.- He washes off his sins and how!

Harsha Bhogle: The run-out was on the cards!!

Saurabh: Don't we all need a mammoth total? 320-350? Then see our batsmen do their magic and take it to the final over. There's no fun in chasing the total in 35-40 overs.- How big a batting fanatic you are, Saurabh.

Harsha Bhogle: The boundaries are the key to this partnership. Azhar Ali has been excellent.

Paras Mathur: How about a bit of Kedar Jadhav?-Try telepathy and advise Kohli, Paras :)

Harsha Bhogle: Pakistan have made the most of their opportunities. This is an excellent start for them now.

Sangram: Meanwhile, CONGRATULATIONS! Kidambi Srikanth clinches his 3rd Super Series title with 21-11, 21-19 win over Japan's Kazumasa Sakai.- You have got many tabs open, I can see that. Please update us as and when you know the result of India-Pakistan hockey clash.

Harsha Bhogle: Running's been a bit frantic. Another day a few run-outs by now.

Tarang: Is it a good batting pitch? Or bad bowling from the Indians??- From here it looks a good pitch but the bowlers haven't helped their cause by straying around and overstepping.

Jenson: Seems like India came with a plan for Fakhar Zaman but forgot to do so for the extras, wide and no balls.- Happens to the best of teams.

Harsha Bhogle: Five overs for 10 from Bhuvneshwar Kumar is as good a new ball spell as any, especially in a final. Other end 4 overs for 38.

Harsha Bhogle: Extra balls with wides and no-balls hurting India badly. The six from Azhar Ali came off the 7th ball of the over. Small things important.

Sudipto: It would have been good to let Pandya share the new ball with Bhuvi. He has got good pace to bowl and could have been effective initially. Bumrah could have been well used in the middle and the death overs.- In the meantime, here's Ashwin for you.

Harsha Bhogle: Ganguly is right. Pressure just shifting. India must put these edges and no-balls behind them.

Vivek Sinha: Oh dear ! Wicket of a no-ball brings back the memories of IND vs WI semi-final clash in World T20 2016.- West Indies were chasing, if you want me to console you.

Harsha Bhogle: If he gets runs today, Fakhar Zaman will look back at this innings and admit he is lucky. From Pakistan's point of view, must use it

Harsha Bhogle: You could sense the nerves in Fakhar Zaman. But India are committing the no-ball crime all over again!

Harsha Bhogle: Think it is a far call that India start favourites. But will need to bowl with the new ball.

Harsha Bhogle: Shoaib Akhtar told me once that Pakistan think and plan too much before an India game and so tend to lose their natural instinct.

Harsha Bhogle: Wouldn't have minded India batting first. I think a big first innings score would have affected Pakistan more. But India backing batting.

Mohan: Humans still do pitch report? I thought drones have taken over.- Yeah India Pakistan calls for human emotions.

Commentary not available for this match