In an electrifying encounter at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian cricket team clinched a sensational six-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in what will be remembered as one of the most thrilling matches in T20 World Cup history. The game, held at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9, saw India defend their joint-lowest total in T20 World Cup history with a combination of disciplined bowling and tactical prowess.
The clash between these two cricketing giants was anything but ordinary. India, batting first, were bowled out for a mere 119 runs, marking their lowest total against Pakistan in T20 history. The Indian batting line-up struggled to find form on the drop-in pitch of New York, which seemed more suited to the bowlers from the get-go. Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by the fiery duo of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who took three wickets each, and Mohammad Amir with two wickets, tore through the Indian batting order.
Despite the precarious situation, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant played a crucial innings, scoring 42 runs off just 18 balls to provide a semblance of resistance. Axar Patel chipped in with a useful 20, yet the team failed to build substantial partnerships, leaving them all out in 19.3 overs.
The Pakistani team, buoyed by their early success, commenced their chase on a steady note. Openers Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam put up a solid start, adding 26 runs for the first wicket. India managed to claim just one wicket in the first ten overs, and it looked like Pakistan were in the driver’s seat. However, it was Jasprit Bumrah who tilted the game back in India’s favor with a masterful display of death bowling.
Bumrah’s spell was nothing short of magical. He claimed three crucial wickets while conceding just 14 runs in his four overs, stifling Pakistan’s chase. Hardik Pandya also played a vital role, taking two wickets for 24 runs, including the prized scalp of Babar Azam.
. Their disciplined efforts saw Pakistan restricted to 113 for 7 in 20 overs, falling short of the target by six runs.
This win not only marked a significant psychological victory for India over their historic rivals but also propelled them to the top of Group A in the points table, with four points from two matches and an impressive net run rate of 1.455. The United States of America, the co-hosts of the tournament, slipped to the second spot with four points but a lower net run rate, while Pakistan faced the grim reality of possibly exiting the tournament early following back-to-back losses.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed his elation at the post-match presentation, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and the bowlers’ extraordinary performance. “Defending a low total is always difficult, but the way our bowlers, particularly Jasprit and Hardik, executed their plans under pressure is commendable,” Sharma said.
On the other side, Pakistani captain Babar Azam couldn’t hide his disappointment but acknowledged the brilliance of the Indian bowlers. “We started well but lost our way in the middle overs. Credit goes to Bumrah and Pandya for their exceptional bowling,” admitted Azam.
Looking ahead, India next faces the co-hosts USA in New York on June 12, in a high-stakes battle for the top spot in Group A. Pakistan, aiming to keep their tournament hopes alive, will square off against Canada at the same venue on June 11. These upcoming encounters are set to further intensify the excitement of the T20 World Cup 2024.
India’s playing XI for the match included Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.
For Pakistan, the playing XI featured Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Babar Azam (captain), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Amir.
This memorable encounter will indeed go down in cricketing folklore as a masterclass in defending low totals, thanks to the brilliance of India’s bowling attack and the tactical acumen displayed by the team under immense pressure.
