Indian fans celebrate after India won the 2015 Cricket World Cup's cricket match against Pakistan, on the streets of Mumbai on February 15, 2015. Jubilant fans spilled out onto India's streets and let off firecrackers after the national team defeated bitter rivals Pakistan in their opening World Cup match in Adelaide on Sunday.PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP / Getty Images
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a wave of congratulations for India's cricket team as it opened its campaign in the World Cup with a resounding 76-run victory over rival Pakistan in Adelaide on Sunday.
"Congrats Team India. Well played. We are all very proud of you," Modi said on his twitter account as former cricketers heaped praise on the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side, which triumphed after failing to win an international game on a preceding tour of Australia.
Virat Kohli's solid knock of 107 propelled India to 300-7 and pace bowler Mohammad Shami grabbed 4-35 to help bowl out the opposition for 224 as India maintained its unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan with a sixth straight victory.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said the match, which many in the two neighbouring countries see as bigger than the World Cup final, had gone on expected lines.
"I'm not surprised with India winning," Ganguly told the Headlines Today news channel. "India is a much better team in terms of ability, a much better team mentally. Look at the Indian team, their intensity is different from the Pakistan team. India was much better in all departments."
India batting great Sunil Gavaskar praised Dhoni for leading the team positively during the crunch game which could decide the final placing of group B and ensure an easier opponent in the quarterfinals.
South Africa is regarded as the strongest side in the group which also has the West Indies, Ireland, Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates.
"Dhoni was pro-active as a captain," Gavaskar told the NDTV news channel. "That was the most heartening aspect of today's win."
Fans in this cricket-crazy country of over 1.2 billion watched the match live on television and were treated to commentary by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and several retired cricket stars.
As India coasted to the impressive win, fans let off firecrackers and took to the streets, even turning up outside the house of retired player Sachin Tendulkar, who featured in all five of India's previous World Cup wins over Pakistan.
"Don't know what I did … some fans are outside my house … Celebrating. … Wish I could have joined them!" the Mumbai batsman tweeted.
Across the border, there was surprise at the promotion of Younis Khan as opener after Pakistan was set a difficult 301-run target.
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad said he was shocked to see Khan opening the innings and also criticized the team management for leaving out specialist wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, opting for Umar Akmal instead.
"It was nothing but a mindboggling team selection that shocked millions of its fans around the world," Miandad said. "What's the rocket science of promoting Younis Khan as an opener? What's the logic of leaving out specialist wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed when he could also bat aggressively?" Miandad questioned.
"It was like pushing the panic button before the start of an all-important event like the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015," he added.
Even fans, many of whom gathered at tea shops and in streets to watch the game, felt the team management had made a mistake by sending in Khan, who was dismissed for only six.
"I think Pakistan made a blunder by having Younis Khan as opener, it disturbed the whole batting order," said Taha Shabbir, a Rawalpindi businessman. "Had we batted sensibly with some proper planning, we could have chased down 300."