India captain Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh made Pakistan pay for fluffing catches with quickfire fifties as the holders launched their Champions Trophy title-defence with a rain-affected 124 run thrashing of their arch-rivals at Edgbaston on Sunday. After India made 319 for three in 48 overs, the third rain stoppage of the match left Pakistan with a revised target of 289 in 41 overs when play resumed in bright sunshine.
But Pakistan, rarely up with the stiff run-rate, finished on 164 for nine, with injured last man Wahab Riaz unable to bat as India won with 44 balls to spare. Kohli, who on Saturday had dismissed reports of a rift with India coach Anil Kumble, was equally contemptuous of Pakistan's attack during a blistering innings of 81 not out off just 68 balls that included six fours and three sixes.
Left-hander Yuvraj, named man-of-the-match for his game-changing innings, smashed a rapid 53 while helping Kohli add 93 for the third wicket in just 59 balls. That was not the end of the run spree, with Hardik Pandya hitting sixes off the first three balls of left-arm spinner Imad Wasim's last over of the innings. India smashed 72 off their final four overs as Pakistan's attack wilted. Rohit Sharma (91) and Shikhar Dhawan (68) laid the platform with an opening stand of 136.
Mohammad Amir was the pick of Pakistan's attack with none for 32 in 8.1 overs. But fellow left-arm fast bowler Wahab was hugely expensive, his wicketless 8.4 overs costing 87 runs. Wahab's day was summed up when he was unable to complete his ninth over after falling awkwardly in his delivery stride. Before the match, players, officials and a crowd of 24,156 - a record for a one-day international at Edgbaston - observed a minute's silence for the victims of Saturday's London terror attack that killed seven people.