Bowlers save the day for India as Pakistan implode in New York thriller

New York,UPDATED: Jun 10, 2024 01:28 IST

Indian bowlers saved the day for the team in their Group A clash of T20 World Cup 2024 against Pakistan, successfully defending 119 runs in New York. Led by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah's miserly spells, India won by 6 runs and hand their arch-rivals their second successive defeat in the points table.

Pakistan managed 113 for 7 as they paid the price for a timid batting approach. Pakistan are in danger of crashing out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage as they have lost two on the bounce. Pakistan were stunned by the USA in their tournament opener on Thursday in Dallas. While Pakistan slipped to the fourth spot in the five-team Group A points table, India jumped to the top with a better Net Run Rate than the USA.

On a day when both batting units struggled to get going on a sluggish pitch, the Indian bowlers stepped up and delivered for Rohit Sharma's men. Jasprit Bumrah was at his very best as he bowled 14 dot balls in his four-over spell and picked 3 wickets, including that of Babar Azam and a well-set Mohammad Rizwan in his second spell.

Hardik Pandya showcased his value with the ball on a day when he failed with the bat. The Mumbai Indians captain used the conditions to the best effect, bowling to the field and hitting the hard lengths. Hardik used bouncers to great effort, picking up the wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan to derail the Pakistan chase.

As former captain Ramiz Raja pointed out on air, it looked like Pakistan have forgotten how to win big games, especially having been shocked in their opener. After a terrific bowling effort, the Pakistan batters failed to seize the opportunity and help the team secure a rare win against India in World Cups.

Notably, it was India's 7th win in eight matches against Pakistan in the men's T20 World Cup as Rohit Sharma's men continued their dominance over their arch-rivals.

Earlier in the day, India were lackluster with the bat, failing to adapt to the conditions at the Nassau County Cricket Ground. The pitch at the makeshift venue looked better than the last three matches, but was still not easy for stroke-playing.

'RECKLESS AND ARROGANT'

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar was extremely critical of India's batting as he opined that Rohit Sharma and his men were reckless and arrogant, not giving enough respect to the high-quality Pakistan bowling attack.

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"Disappointing batting performance. It bordered on arrogance and recklessness if I might use the word. Because there was arrogance at the start of the innings as well. They were looking to hit every ball. This is not an Ireland attack. This is not an ordinary bowling attack," Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.

"I don't mean any disrespect to Ireland, but Pakistan is a very, very experienced attack. It should have been just that little bit of respect given when the ball was doing a little bit. Getting out with one over to spare tells you that you were probably not in the right kind of thinking cap," he added.

The rub of green went Babar Azam's way at the toss and the Pakistan captain opted to bowl without having any second thoughts. India needed to assess the conditions after all the chatter around the unpredictable nature of the pitch. India went into a rain break at 8 for 0 at the end of the first over. When the two openers came back after a brief delay, they needed to be a little more cautious than they were However, Virat Kohli threw it away as early as the second over of the Indian innings, trying to hit Naseem Shah over the 30-yard circle on the off-side. Kohli was looking to put the pressure on the Pakistan bowling attack early, but he was caught at covers.

Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, threw it away by flicking one straight into the hands of the deep fine-leg fielder in the very next over as India slipped to 19 for 2 in the third over.

India tried to shield Suryakumar Yadav in difficult batting conditions and used floater Axar Patel at No. 4. The move worked in favour of the team as Axar was inventive in the powerplay, hitting Shaheen Afridi for a six and a boundary, using the pace of the left-arm pacer in the fifth over. Rishabh Pant lived dangerously in the middle, trying fancy shots, but connecting very few in the first six overs.

India posted 50 for 2 in the powerplay despite losing their big guns Rohit and Kohli, thanks to some fearless approach from Pant and Axar.

Pakistan continued to be sloppy on the field as they dropped Rishabh Pant twice in the powerplay and once in the 9th over. The wicketkeeper-batter did well to capitalise on his opportunities and convert his start into 42 off 31 balls.

However, the fearlessness displayed in the first six overs turned into recklessness after India lost Axar Patel in the 9th over. Axar, batting on 20 from 17 balls in a 50-run partnership, threw it away while trying to hit Naseem Shah and saw his woodwork rattled.