India vs Pakistan: Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant script India win over Pakistan

India pulled off a thriller against Pakistan in a T20 World Cup match in New York that saw both the teams struggling at the back end of their innings. They won by six runs to put Pakistan’s campaign in the tournament off track, meaning that the Babar Azam-led team may have to return home after only the league phase. They have now lost two in two. 

First, it were India who were cruising at 89/3 after 11 overs before losing their last seven wickets for just 30 runs and getting bowled out for 119 in 19 overs.

Then, it were Pakistan who were cruising in chase of the target, at 80/3 needing just 40 runs off 36 balls. However, they slipped badly and finished at 113/7 in 20 overs.

Batting, it appears, was tough and bowlers found the spongy bounce to their liking.

Here are some of the main phases of the match and the game-changers:

• India started poorly and were reduced to 19/2 in 2.4 overs. But Rishabh Pant, first with Axar Patel and then with Suryakumar Yadav added 39 and 31 respectively to get India to a good start. Pant, who is returning from an injury made 42 off 31 balls with six fours in an innings that could have ended earlier. He was dropped once. However, he played exquisite shots, including a ramp shot where he fell over but connected.
• Pakistan made a comeback through their pace bowlers with Naseem Shah (3/21), Mohammad Amir (2/23), and Haris Rauf (3/21) making a big difference, removing India’s last seven batsmen for just 30 runs.
• Pakistan made a strong and cautious start with Babar Azam (13) and Muhammad Rizwan (31 off 44 balls) adding 26 for the first wicket and Rizwan and Usman Khan (13) adding 31 for the second wicket.
• Even after Usman Khan’s dismissal, the game was in Pakistan’s bag. But Fakhar Zaman (13 off 8) threw his wicket away at a stage when they needed just 47 off 47 balls. Rizwan too threw away his wicket, trying to swipe Jasprit Bumrah towards mid-wicket for a boundary to leave Pakistan at 80/4.
• With 40 to get off 35 balls after Rizwan’s dismissal, the onus was on Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim. But both of them couldn’t connect the ball well and as the pressure built, wickets fell and Pakistan finished well short.

India skipper Rohit Sharma said after the match, “We didn't bat well enough. I thought halfway through, we were in a good position. You expect the batsmen to stitch partnerships. We were 15-20 runs short. We were looking at 140, but nevertheless the bowlers did the job.”

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said after the match, “I think they bowled well after 10 overs. We were chasing 120, we were run a ball for the first 10 overs, but back to back wickets and then [the failure]. The tactics were simple. Just play normally, rotate strike, and get 5-6 an over. But we had too many dot balls, and the pressure fell on us, and we lost three quick wickets.”

Player of the Match: India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who took 3/14 including the main wickets of Babar and Rizwan, was adjudged Player of the Match.

Cricket, T20 World Cup, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Babar Azam