Hesson: We were a bit frenzied at the start with the bat and then got squeezed

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has acknowledged that they were "outplayed" on Sunday in their seven-wicket defeat against India. Speaking after the game, Hesson said Pakistan struggled to come up with answers to India's spinners, who ended up "squeezing" them, and that Pakistan would have to play better cricket to stay competitive against the best sides.

"We were outplayed today," Hesson said at the press conference. "I don't think we can hide from that. We didn't bat well enough. We left ourselves probably 20 or 30 [runs] short, and we all know through those middle overs we got squeezed. Lots to work on against a good bowling attack, but I was pleased the way the guys fought hard in the field albeit with a score that wasn't enough."

For much of the innings with the bat after Pakistan opted to set a target, they looked as if they might struggle to get to three figures. They found themselves on 83 for 7 in the 17th over, before a cameo at the end from Shaheen Afridi took them to 127.

"Up until the last few matches, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub had averaged 40 opening the batting, and had done particularly well," Hesson said. "Saim is a key player for us, and it's important for any side that we get off to a good start. Four games ago, we were doing quite nicely at the top; we've lost a bit of momentum there, but I certainly have confidence in those two to turn it around quickly."

There was a touch of mayhem about the first two overs with the bat for Pakistan. Ayub sliced to point off the first legitimate delivery he faced in what was his second successive golden duck. The incoming Mohammad Haris lashed at Jasprit Bumrah right from the outset, and skied his second ball to square leg. Fakhar Zaman was nearly undone by a yorker later that over, surviving on review after the ball was found to have pitched outside leg stump.

"With the bat, we were a little bit frenzied at the start," Hesson said. "The ball held in the surface, as we expected, but we didn't respond as well as we would have liked. We were in the game at the end of the powerplay, and then we got squeezed."

Farhan, who had watched the carnage from the other end, found the odd big shot, but it was interspersed with long streaks of dot deliveries. He struck Bumrah for two sixes in the powerplay - the only player to have hit Bumrah for more than one six in a T20I. But 23 of the 44 balls he faced were dots, and as the spinners began to tighten their grip on the game, his effectiveness was diminished.

"The more big games you play, the more trust you have in your own game," Hesson said. "We've certainly got some players who're finding their feet. They want to be in the battle, and we'll come back stronger in a few days' time."

Pakistan will have to do that. If results fall the way it is likely, Pakistan's match against UAE will be almost a knockout game for them to advance to the Super Fours stage. Progression for Hesson's side will mean another meeting with India next Sunday.

"We'll turn up in three days' time. We need to play better than we did today with both ball and bat," Hesson said. "We need to be more disciplined with the ball early on. I was actually really pleased with the way we fought in the field, where we showed a huge amount of character. We're going to need a lot more of that on Wednesday. If we do that, we're hopeful of having another crack in the Super 4s, where we're going to have to play better cricket than we did tonight. I've certainly got confidence in this group."