Rohit praises India's versatile bowling, Pakistan coach Arthur hurt by absence of fans
At 155-2 in the 30th over, and with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan looking set in the middle, Pakistan appeared to be heading towards a 300-plus total at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
The wheels, though, soon came off their innings and Pakistan were eventually bundled out for a paltry 191 in 42.5 overs.
It was a remarkable bowling display by India, with five of the six bowlers they deployed claiming two wickets apiece in a collective effort.
"There is no doubt about it that the bowlers set up the game for us again today. It was a great effort," Rohit said after his blistering half-century set up India's clinical chase.
"I don't think it was a 190-run pitch.
"At one stage we were looking at 270-280 but they came back and showed grit and that says a lot about the guys."
For India, Mohammed Siraj dismissed Babar (50) to trigger a collapse, fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah foxed in-form Rizwan (49) with a slow off-cutter and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav sent down a two-wicket over to wreck Pakistan.
"We pride ourselves on whoever gets the ball doing the job for us," explained Rohit.
"We have got six individuals who can do the job. It can't be everybody's every day.
"My job as a captain is important there to read the conditions and who is the best guy to trouble the batsman. I assess that every now and then."
There was significant hype around the contest between the arch-rivals but India again prevailed to maintain their unbeaten record against Pakistan in the history of the tournament.
Rohit said they treated it like just another game in a long World Cup and maintaining that unbeaten streak was never on their minds.
"This was an opposition we wanted to play against because we want to play quality opposition.
"Every opposition we come up against in this tournament is quality and can beat you on any particular day.
"What has happened in the past or might happen in the future doesn't matter too much. You have to play well on that particular day."
Arthur hurt by absence of Pakistan fans
Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur was upset by the lack of their fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday but would not blame the team's comprehensive defeat on the absence of support from the stands.
The late unveiling of the tournament's schedule had already made it difficult for fans from abroad to plan their tour of India for the 13th edition of the showpiece event.
Soured political relations between the Asian neighbours has further complicated the issue and the Pakistan Cricket Board has asked the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) to sort out visa delays for their fans and media travelling to India.
Almost an entirely Indian crowd of 100,000-plus fans turned the entire stadium into a sea of blue jerseys and Arthur felt the tournament, hosted by the Indian board (BCCI), lacked the flavour of a global event.
"It didn't seem like an ICC event to be brutally honest," the former Australia coach said after the loss.
"It seemed like a bilateral series, it seemed like a BCCI event.
"I didn't hear 'Dil Dil Pakistan' coming through the microphones too often tonight," he said referring to the unofficial anthem for the country.
"So yes, that does play a role, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse because for us it was about living the moment, it was about the next ball and it was about how we were going to combat the Indian players tonight."
Only half a dozen Pakistani journalists arrived on the eve of the match and the ICC said they were trying to sort out the visa issues.
Asked if it was right for a World Cup, Arthur said: "Look, I don't think I can comment on that just yet. I don't want to get fined."
