India triumphed over arch-rivals Pakistan by six runs in a fiercely contested T20 World Cup group stage match in New York on Monday. Chasing a target of 120 runs, Pakistan faltered, finishing at 113/7 in 20 overs, with Jasprit Bumrah delivering an impressive performance, taking 3/14. Hardik Pandya also contributed significantly by taking two wickets for India.
Initially, Rishabh Pant’s aggressive 42 off 31 balls propelled India to 119 in 19 overs. India suffered a shocking batting collapse, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf each taking three wickets.
The match was filled with dramatic moments, one of which particularly stood out during the first innings. On the third delivery of the 19th over, Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a full toss, which Mohammed Siraj hit to deep cover. Siraj aimed for a double, but Arshdeep Singh declined. The throw from the deep wasn’t gathered by Shaheen, as the ball struck his toes and rolled away, allowing Siraj to complete the double easily and Arshdeep to take strike.
This incident left Pakistan captain Babar Azam completely stunned. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma couldn’t hold back their laughter, breaking into splits.
Here is the video:
— Nihari Korma (@NihariVsKorma) June 10, 2024
Speaking post-match, India captain Rohit Sharma expressed his disappointment with his team’s batting performance. The first innings saw Virat Kohli (4) depart early, with Suryakumar Yadav (7), Shivam Dube (3), Hardik Pandya (7), Ravindra Jadeja (0), Arshdeep Singh (9), and Jasprit Bumrah (0) also losing their wickets cheaply.
“We didn’t bat well enough. Halfway through our innings, we were in a good position but failed to build partnerships and fell short with the bat. We emphasized that every run matters on such a pitch. The wicket was good compared to the last game, and with our bowling lineup, we felt confident,”
Rohit said.
“At the halfway stage when they were batting, we reminded everyone that if it could happen to us, it could happen to them. Contributions from everyone make a huge difference. Bumrah is going from strength to strength. We all know his capabilities. We want him to stay in that mindset throughout the WC. He’s a genius. The crowd was fantastic as always. Wherever we play, they never disappoint. I’m sure they’re going home with big smiles. It’s just the start, and we have a long way to go,”
he added.
