Jasprit Bumrah seems to be oblivious to the widespread belief that T20 cricket favors batters, as India's premier fast bowler once again turned in a game-changing performance in the World Cup showdown against Pakistan on Sunday. Although Bumrah might not have the celebrity status of batters like Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma in India, the 30-year-old is the key player when India's batting falters. This was evident in the Group A match against traditional rivals Pakistan, where India was bowled out for 119 with an over remaining in their innings. Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, seemed destined for victory at 80-3 after 14 overs, but Bumrah stepped in. He dismissed the well-set Mohammad Rizwan (31), bringing India back into the game, though Pakistan still appeared strong needing 21 runs from 12 balls with five wickets remaining. Bumrah then delivered a crucial penultimate over, giving away just three runs and taking the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistan's last hope, securing a six-run victory for India in a low-scoring thriller. Bumrah's 24 deliveries included 15 dot balls, showcasing his precision, which is particularly valuable in this format. 'We've seen him over the years what he can do,' Rohit commented after India's 7-1 record against Pakistan in the tournament's history. 'We want him to maintain that mindset until the end of the World Cup. He's a genius with the ball...' Pakistan, who were finalists in the previous edition, face an early exit after also losing to the United States in their opening match. Bumrah, who ended with figures of 3-14, noted that there was less assistance for bowlers in the second innings but he adapted well to the conditions. 'Even when there is help, you can be desperate and... try to pull off that magic delivery,' he explained to reporters after securing his second consecutive player-of-the-match award. 'We had to be accurate because if you go for magic deliveries and try to be too desperate, run making becomes easy.'
Text: Lara Palmer
11.06.2024
India's pace spearhead delivers a match-winning performance, defying the batter-friendly T20 format.