Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kedar Jadhav claimed three wickets each followed by Rohit Sharma's quickfire half-century as India registered a comprehensive eight-wicket victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup Group A match, in Dubai on Wednesday.
Electing to bat, Pakistan were bowled out for 162 in 43.1 overs with Bhuvneshwar claiming three for 15 and Jadhav taking three for 23.
With the bat, India were never really challenged as captain Rohit led the way with a blistering knock of 52 from 39 balls.
He laid the foundation for India's victory, putting on 86 runs for the opening wicket with Shikhar Dhawan, who stroked 46.
Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik were unbeaten on 31 each as India cruised to 164 for two in 29 overs, to win by eight wickets with 21 overs to spare -- to register their biggest victory against Pakistan in ODIs in terms of balls remaining.
India's next match will be against Bangladesh in the Super Four Stage on Friday, September 21 at 1700 IST.
The eighth over from Usman Khan enabled India cut loose as Rohit hit the pacer for two sixes and a four, getting 19 runs from the over.
Rohit's third six was a another hook shot off Hasan Ali followed by a drive through mid-off to complete his 35th half century in ODIs. He was bowled by a googly from leg-spinner Shadab Khan but by then India were on course for a comprehensive victory.
Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik both contributed 31 to take India past finish line with consummate ease.
The two teams will again face-off in the Super Four stage on September 23.
Earlier, Bhuvneshwar, who claimed three for 15 in seven overs, provided the initial breakthroughs, Jadhav, making a comeback to the national team, bowled with control to return with exceptional figures of 3 for 23 in 9 overs to break the backbone of the Pakistani lower middle-order.
Jasprit Bumrah (2/23 in 7.1 overs) and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (1/37 in 8 overs) also made good contributions with the ball.
Jadhav's performance is even more laudable as he did the job of a frontline spinner after Hardik Pandya (0/24 in 4.5 overs) was stretchered off the field due to an acute lower back injury.
This was after young Babar Azam (47) and veteran Shoaib Malik (43) added 82 runs for the third wicket to rally Pakistan after early wickets.
However, Pakistan suffered a batting collapse losing five wickets for 36 runs before Faheem Ashraf (21) and Mohammed Aamir (16) added an invaluable 37 runs for the eighth wicket to take the total past 150-run mark.
Put into bat, Pakistan were in trouble straight away as Bhuvneshwar dealt a twin blow removing the in-form duo of Imam ul Haq (2) and Fakhar Zaman (0) to reduce them to two for three.
Imam charged to a short of length delivery that climbed on him and the thickish outside edge was taken by Dhoni. Zaman, India's tormentor in the ICC Champions Trophy, mistimed a pull-shot and Yuzvendra Chahal took a well-judged catch.
Babar and Malik then resurrected the innings with a fine partnership. Veteran Malik gave Kuldeep Yadav the charge to hit him for a six and rotated the strike well to keep the scoreboard ticking in the middle overs.
In fact, Malik was dropped by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Pandya's bowling, whose agonies increased when he had to leave the field with a back injury.
Kuldeep made the breakthrough with the wicket of Azam, who was deceived by the googly and was bowled.
From 85 for two, Pakistan slipped to 100 for five as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Sarfraz Ahmed (6) was dismissed by Jadhav as substitute fielder Manish Pandey took a blinder at long-on, flicking the ball inside the ropes after the momentum forced him to run over the boundary, but he did well to compose himself before coming back in to complete a stunning catch.
The Pakistani batsmen found it extremely difficult to read Jadhav's round arm action as he bowled straight and wide. Asif Ali was caught behind and then Malik was run-out by a direct throw from Ambati Rayudu at point
Shadab Khan (8) was stumped by Dhoni as he became Jadhav's third victim of the match.
Faheem and Aamir did try their bit as Pakistan crossed the 150-run mark before Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah wrapped up the tail in the 44th over.
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