Rohit Sharma didn’t need to make frantic gestures to reposition his fielders, nor did the senior players huddle around the bowlers after every delivery with advice. Defending a mere 119 runs often leads to chaotic scenes and prolonged deliberations, but at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium against Pakistan on Sunday, India’s bowlers remained calm and composed. Their clinical performance restricted Pakistan to 113/7 in 20 overs, securing a six-run victory in a Group A clash of the T20 World Cup.
In low-scoring games, teams typically aim to take early wickets to gain an advantage. However, this match was more about persistence and pressure, rather than aggressive wicket-taking. The pitch demanded a strategy of attrition, with bowlers focusing on building pressure and avoiding easy boundaries.
India’s bowlers, seasoned by their extensive IPL experience, executed their plans flawlessly. Jasprit Bumrah led the attack with a stellar performance, finishing with figures of 4-0-14-3. Unlike the 1990s and early 2000s when India envied Pakistan’s pace bowlers, Bumrah now stands as the star of the fast-bowling world.
However, Bumrah’s brilliance alone wouldn’t have been enough, given Pakistan’s modest required run rate of six per over at the start of their chase. Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja also played crucial roles. Their combined effort led to the joint-lowest total successfully defended in T20 World Cup history.
The slow surface, though not ideal for a T20 game, gave the bowlers from both teams an edge. Despite India’s strong start of 81/3 in their first ten overs, Pakistan’s bowlers managed to limit them to 119. Batting second, Pakistan should have been able to strategize their chase more effectively.
Yet, they fell short. India’s bowlers, while not producing any magical deliveries, maintained discipline and prevented Pakistan from gaining momentum. Arshdeep’s first over included some hittable deliveries, but India’s bowlers quickly adjusted and avoided chasing wickets.
Bumrah demonstrated this approach by maintaining a hard length, which left Babar Azam uncertain about whether to play or leave the ball. Azam’s indecision led to a catch at slip by Suryakumar Yadav. Bumrah’s ability to deliver consistently without seeking flashy deliveries sets him apart. Mohammed Siraj complemented Bumrah with an economical opening spell of 3-0-10-0. According to CricViz data, India’s pacers bowled 30% of their deliveries on a hard length, significantly more than Pakistan’s 17%.
Overall, India’s disciplined bowling and strategic execution were key to their narrow victory over Pakistan.
