One squad had Jasprit Bumrah. The other did not. And that was all. That was the difference. This Indian legend’s profile is full of fantastic performances. But this will be sweeter not only because it happened in a T20 World Cup encounter against Pakistan, but also because without his involvement, the game would almost definitely have ended differently. India defended 119.
Pakistan lost after being 80 for three. The 2022 tournament finals are in danger of being eliminated early. Pakistan needs 40 runs from the last 36 deliveries with seven wickets in hand. Poor thing. It was left on the fritz. Jasprit Bumrah‘s discipline, coolness under pressure, and amazing skill, not only in delivering the right ball but also in comprehending what the right ball is, baffled both man and machine in New York.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Smart Bowling Stifles Pakistan
Ironically, all of this occurred because Jasprit Bumrah refused to look for wickets. He simply bowled what he thought was unhittable – the back of a length delivery – and by doing so consistently, he made Pakistan desperate. He put them into a corner, which is their preferred position in World Cups, but that wasn’t the case here. There was nothing except panic here.
Mohammad Rizwan was led to believe that a full-length ball was available to play a cross-bat shot. His stumps had paid the price. Soon after knocking it back, Bumrah extended his arms wide and smiled. This is his customary celebration.
But he did not stop there. He roared. More than 30,000 people on the ground roared alongside him. Jasprit Bumrah pounded the air. Millions of people joined him. India could expand on this opening. This was the crack that would lead to the collapse.
Too Much To Handle For Opponents
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Rizwan, the set batter, went 31 for 44. Bumrah, who had earlier dismissed Babar Azam, also removed Pakistan’s last hope, Iftikhar Ahmed, in the 19th over. Out of his 24 balls, 15 were dots. Even his complete tosses proved game-changing.
Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance etched a piece of history: 119 is the joint-lowest total ever defended in men’s T20 World Cups. Axar Patel was the second unsung hero, delivering the first of the death overs and limiting the score to just two runs despite facing a left-handed batter with a short boundary on the leg side.
Imad Wasim was never permitted to win the match because he was given a steady diet of non-spinning deliveries that angled across him and bounced over his cut shots.
Challenging Pitch in New York
This was the best pitch to bat on in New York thus far. However, even this was not without risk. The ball rarely comes on, and when it does, it bounces unevenly. Rizwan and Arshdeep Singh received strikes to the hands. In these situations, a little luck is essential. Pant earned it by surviving three catching possibilities in three deliveries, followed by an inside edge that could have hit the stumps. A little bravery helps. Jasprit Bumrah demonstrated that when he crushed Haris Rauf over extra cover.
A little imagination is also useful. Pant exemplified this with a flip shot he executed while falling to the floor since that was the only way he knew how to get beneath a nice-length ball and put it in the gap at fine leg. Later, in response to Imad’s incredibly accurate left-arm spin, he executed the standing reverse sweep. It was difficult to bat out there. Pant’s unconventional ways helped him succeed and made him stand out. He made 42 out of 31 with a strike rate of 135. The rest of India scored 70 off 84 with a strike rate of 83.
