In a dramatic twist, India managed to snatch victory from the brink of defeat in their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan. The game, played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, saw India defend a modest total of 119, ultimately winning by six runs. Pakistan, often fluctuating between brilliance and blunders, seemed poised for victory, needing just 48 runs from 48 balls with eight wickets remaining. However, India's bowlers, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, turned the tide with a series of game-changing spells.
At the halfway mark of their chase, Pakistan were well-placed at 57/1. Yet, the combined efforts of Bumrah and Hardik Pandya derailed their progress. Bumrah's exceptional performance, yielding 3 for 14, and Pandya's incisive 2 for 24, dismantled the Pakistani batting lin eup. From a position of strength, Pakistan collapsed to 113 for 7 in their 20 overs.
Former Pakistan cricketer Waqar Younis expressed his frustration over his team’s inability to close out the game. He criticised the Pakistani batters for their lacklustre performance, noting that the match was essentially handed to them on a plate, only for them to squander the opportunity. Younis highlighted that while India’s batting might falter, their strong bowling
line up, including stars like Bumrah and Siraj, always keeps them in contention. He stated that Bumrah’s brilliance, coupled with Pakistan's poor shot selection, especially from Mohammad Rizwan, was pivotal in India's comeback.
Jasprit Bumrah demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the premier bowlers in world cricket. His spell of 3 for 14 included an impressive 15 dot balls, showcasing his control and precision. This performance was critical in defending India’s total of 119. Earlier, Pakistan's bowlers had restricted India to this modest score, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf each taking 3 for 21. Rishabh Pant was the top scorer for India, contributing 42 runs off 31 balls.
As the match progressed, Bumrah struck first, removing Mohammad Rizwan, and setting the stage for India’s fightback. Hardik Pandya, after a costly start, returned to take 2 for 6 in his final two overs. Additional support came from Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel, each claiming a wicket, ensuring Pakistan could not recover from their mid-innings collapse.
The game reached a crucial juncture when Pakistan was at 80/3, but India's bowlers kept their nerve, restricting them to 113/7. This victory marked the lowest total India has ever defended in T20 Internationals, highlighting the remarkable resilience and skill of their bowling unit.