Champions Trophy: Kohli & Company draw praise post clinical win over Pakistan

What a smooth win #TeamIndia. Heartiest congratulations!!! Way to go and bring the trophy 🏆 home! #INDvPAK #ChampionsTrophy2017 @BCCI @ICC

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) June 4, 2017

Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif also congratulated Kohli's side for clinching an easy win and mocked Pakistan for actually playing like a No.8 side in the world.

"That was too easy for India. Pakistan played like a No.8 side. Congratulations India, superb victory.#INDvPAK," he said.

That was too easy for India. Pakistan played like a No.8 side. Congratulations India, superb victory.#INDvPAK

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 4, 2017

Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan wrote, "Clinical performance by Indian team to kick start the campaign. Congratulations!! #INDvPAK #CT17."

Describing India's victory over Pakistan as `comprehensive', right-handed batsman Manoj Tiwary hailed his country's all-round performance and also backed them to continue the momentum in the rest of the eight-team marquee tournament.

Dis is called comprehensive Victory 💪 Great all round performance. Congratulations Team INDIA 👏 Keep it goin #INDvPAK #ChampionsTrophy2017

— Manoj Tiwary (@tiwarymanoj) June 4, 2017

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag continued his typical witty way and wrote, " Pote ke baad Bete. Koi Baat nahi Beta, Well tried ! Congratulations Bharat !#BaapBaapHotaHai #INDvPAK."

Pote ke baad Bete. Koi baat nahi Beta, Well tried ! Congratulations Bharat !#BaapBaapHotaHai #INDvPAK

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 4, 2017

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist heaped praise on Yuvraj Singh, who was declared `Man of the Match` for his quick-fire half-century.

"Wow. @YUVSTRONG12 still nailing it and as usual looking super cool. #INDvPAK #CT17," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, former T20 skipper Shahid Afridi admitted that his country's age old problems with strike rotation and poor death bowling hurt them badly in the game.

Our age old problems with strike rotation and poor death bowling hurt us badly in the game

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 4, 2017

Echoing similar views, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said, "Unless Pak cricket structure is totally revamped/reformed, despite an abundance of talent the gap between Pak & India will keep increasing."

Chasing a revised target of 289 runs in 41 overs, Pakistan were bundled out for 164 runs with Wahab Riaz not coming to bat because of an injury he sustained during India's innings.

Except opener Azhar Ali, none of the Pakistani batters could stay for a long time at the crease and cope up with the pressure - of the target as well as of the Indian bowlers.

Umesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India as he finished with the figures of three for 30 while Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya took two wickets each.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar also chipped in with a wicket.

Put in to bat first in a rain-hit encounter, openers Rohit Sharma (91) and Shikhar Dhawan (68) provided their side with a perfect start as the duo not only blasted half-century each but they also went on to stitch a huge 136-run stand, thus making them the most successful opening pair in the history of the eight-team marquee event.

Subsequently, skipper Virat Kohli (unbeaten at 81) and Yuvraj Singh (53) continued the good work put in by the openers as they too scored aggressive fifties to guide India past the 300-plus mark.

While Yuvraj was hitting freely, Kohli slowly gained in momentum and hammered his 40th fifty off 58 balls and his first against Pakistan. The duo added 93 runs for the third wicket.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya (unbeaten at 20) added further woes to Pakistan as he rounded off India's innings by blasting three sixes to help them reach 319-3.

The Kohli-led side will now lock horns against Sri Lanka at the Kennington Oval in London on June 8.

-ANI