This low-scoring match proved that T20 cricket isn’t always about hitting big sixes. Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant bowling was the key to India’s victory
Archan Mehta
New York, NY
A packed Nassau County stadium in New York pulsed with Bollywood and Bhangra beats on a sunny Sunday, as India and Pakistan faced off in the T20 World Cup. 34,000 fans roared with excitement, adding to the electrifying atmosphere created by the DJ’s tunes. India struggled with the bat, managing only 119 runs. It seemed like an easy win for Pakistan, but they hadn’t counted on India’s star bowler, Jasprit Bumrah – arguably the most valuable player on the planet in any form of cricket, excelling in T20, One-Day, and Test matches. He bowled incredibly well, claiming 3 wickets for just 14 runs and putting immense pressure on Pakistan with his “New-Yorker”.
Bumrah’s performance, along with some great fielding by India, turned the game around. Pakistan started their chase confidently but soon stumbled due to Bumrah’s bowling. The turning point came when Bumrah cleaned up Mohammad Rizwan after scoring 31 runs, and Pakistan eventually lost the match by 6 runs.
It wasn’t just Bumrah who contributed to India’s win. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya helped out with both bat and ball. Rishabh Pant, with a combination of luck, bravery, and unconventional shots like the falling flick and reverse sweep, scored 42 runs off 31 balls, outperforming the rest of the Indian team.
This low-scoring match proved that T20 cricket isn’t always about hitting big sixes. Bumrah’s brilliant bowling was the key to India’s victory, proving that adaptability and skill are crucial in this format of cricket.
Indian fans erupted in celebration as the final wicket fell. The win over their rivals was even more special because of the electric atmosphere in the stadium. It was a day that belonged to Bumrah, whose incredible bowling performance will be remembered by everyone who witnessed it. Rohit Sharma lauded Bumrah saying, “He’s a genius with the ball, we know that, but hats off to the other guys as well.”
The T20 2024 World Cup is alive and kicking, but former champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two-time winners England, and recent finalists New Zealand are facing an uphill battle to advance past the initial group stage.
Pakistan needs to win their remaining matches against Canada and Ireland by large margins, and hope that Ireland defeats the USA by a significant margin, while also relying on the unlikely scenario of both Canada and the USA upsetting India to qualify for the next round.
England’s qualification hopes hinge on securing dominant wins against Oman and Namibia, relying on Australia to convincingly defeat Scotland, and potentially needing a superior net run rate compared to Scotland to advance.
New Zealand must win their remaining matches against West Indies, PNG, and Uganda, while also hoping the West Indies defeat Afghanistan, to overcome the setback of their substantial loss to Afghanistan and secure qualification. Sri Lanka must win big against the Netherlands and Nepal, while also hoping the Netherlands defeats Bangladesh, as their qualification hinges on better net run rate.
