On June 9, 2024, the cricketing world witnessed a clash between India and Pakistan as opponents in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and it was indeed an epic game to remember. Played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, the match was a testament to the intensity of cricket and saw India scrape to a hard-fought 6-run win. The encounter was a classic in all its forms: great batting, brilliant bowling, and a truly lip biting spectacle until the final bit of the game.
Toss and Early Game Dynamics
Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan captain Babar Azam was looking to cash in on the overcast early morning conditions that seemed to be conducive to bowlers. The pitch was a touch green and as a result, the pacers might get a little bit of movements early on. But, it also offered a true surface and the promise of good bounce and carry – for batters who could see off the new ball.
Indian Innings
Powerplay: A Cautious Start
The Indian innings got off to a start with the duo of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul coming out to open the batting. Pakistan bowled tightly through pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi. Afridi’s late inward shapes with a fair amount of swing and Haris Rauf’s express pace made run-scoring even more difficult in the powerplay. Though he fell cheaply trying to break the shackles, edging one to the slip cordon for a second-ball 6, Rohit Sharma did show signs of regaining his best. His 10 runs knock brought India on the back foot.
Building Partnerships
Number three walk in was Virat Kohli to lend his experience to the situation. Kohli steadied the ship with KL Rahul, taking a lot of singles and doubles, while punishing the loose balls to the boundary. Following a 70-run stand for the second wicket, Rahul was sent back after making a 38-ball 45.
Pant replaced Kohli and the young wicketkeeper-batsman, just like he does, made his intentions clear straight-up by hitting a few boundaries. Pant attacked the Pakistani bowlers aggressively. His 55 from 28 balls with 4 sixes and 5 fours, was a T20 batting lesson for any aspiring openers. The nature of Pant’s innings in linetogel that regard was a comforting one for India, because it did not allow them to slow down after the departure of the composed 60 from Kohli.
Middle and Death Overs
Pakistan spinners, and Shadab Khan in particular, kept things tight through the middle overs. India did well to ensure the run rate did not fall too drastically, even though they kept losing wickets at regular intervals, with the departures of Surya kumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya proving crucial. Pant’s exit in the final over of their innings was a hammer blow but a swift 20 from Ravindra Jadeja at the back end ensured India posted a challenging 165 for 7 in a match which loses most of the context without fans turning up in the stands.
Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers with 3-28. He nagged at the batsmen with his ability to swing the ball both ways at a lively pace and was a constant threat through each innings.
Pakistan’s Chase
A Rocky Start
It was important for Pakistan to get a good start, chasing 166 but Jasprit Bumrah had other ideas. Bumrah who is famous for his dead-exact yorkers and deceptive pace struck early to remove Babar Azam with an in-swinger that hit the stumps. The early wicket put India on top in their bowling performance.
Recovery and Middle Overs contest
Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman joined force to steady the ship. Rizwan, in his own calm, composed manner, was holding one end up, as Zaman went about his usual business of hammering deliveries. Rizwan was then awarded the Man of the Match for scoring a brilliant half-century (53) along with his partnership of 85 runs which kept Pakistan in the game.
Jadeja along with Yuzvendra Chahal were India’s most economical bowlers in the middle overs and it was tough for Pakistan to launch during that period. Chahal’s bag of tricks combined with Jadeja’s accuracy in line and length meant the required run rate was creeping up.
The Turning Point
The match was at 18th over when it turned because back in to the attack return in front of Jasprit Bumrah. Pakistan were 24 runs short with 18 balls to go when some of Bumrah’s death bowling genius was on display. He gave away just 4 runs and took an important wicket of Fakhar Zaman, who was looking dangerous on 48. Zaman fell, and momentum turned once more towards India.
The Final Overs
They needed 20 runs from the final 12 deliveries and captain Paddikal entrusted the 19th over to Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep bowled with immense calmness under pressure vein, he leaked 10 runs, and then took an important scalp as well. This game Pakistan required 10 off the last over.
The much-feared go-to bowler in crunch situation Jasprit Bumrah was offered the last over to save the game. In fact, Bumrah bowled yorkers and slower balls at perfect lengths to celebrate his nerves of steel in the final over of Zimbabwe’s chase. 6 runs needed off the last ball and he conceded only 3 runs in the first five balls. There was only one ball left in the over, leaving Haris Rauf on strike as he crossed for one of his own, and India had clinched a scintillating 6-run win!
Key Performances
Rishabh Pant: Pant played arguably the match-winning knock, as he scored 55 off 28 balls at the World T20. He added much needed impetus in the scoring and his approach rubbed off on the rest of the batsmen facing the Pakistani bowlers.
Kohli: Kohli steady India boat with a 60V.rolli A cool head and a world of experience helped him to lay groundwork for partnerships and to ensure India post a healthy total.
Best Death Over Specialists of the Match:Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah was brilliant in the death. Afghanistan were close to getting the better of India despite his 3/24 and the nullah that followed has now assumed a disproportionate space in this tale.
Shaheen Afridi: Afridi’s 3/28 helped Pakistan run through India’s top and middle order during the early and middle overs. Being Pakistan’s best bowler, his knack for striking when it mattered most just helped his cause.
In Pics: Pakistan make winning start to T20 World Cup defence on Rizwan’s 52* →Mohammad Rizwan: Rizwan’s battling 52 saved Pakistan’s chase. He loves to rotate the strike and did quite well under pressure to find boundaries.
Strategic Insights
India’s Batting Strategy
The KXIP coach, who was in agreement with his skipper, felt that India had approached the game with a mixture of caution and aggression. Placing the innings around the experience of men such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli was the correct one. At the same time, more dynamic players like Rishabh Pant helped them raise the pace when required.
Against a formidable bowling attack in Pakistan, the strategy to simply build partnerships and grind them into the dust was executed successfully. Diminished role in the middle with Kohli and Pant’s aggressive play was the right recipe for him. A Ravindra Jadeja half-century at the back end made sure that India had enough on the board to fight against.
Bowling and fielding of Pakistan
The Pakistan bowling juggernaut was quite evident through their bowling stratergy.-Also, This inning oneday would be no different, bowl seamers in the beginning and bank on spinners in the middle overs to dry up runs. First, Shaheen Afridi struck twice early on to give Pakistan the breakthroughs, before Shadab Khan bowled a tight spell in the middle-overs to not allow India to score freely.
Another aspect where Pakistan thrived was in fielding. They took sharp catches, and the ground fielding was in general pretty tight, saving runs that were all but apparently crucial in such a close game.
India’s Bowling Execution
In the Indian camp, their plans were centred around their premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The call to keep Bumrah for the death worked wonders for the Indian team. He was so deadly accurate in mixing yorkers with his slower deliveries that the Pakistan batsmen could not break free in the final overs.
The spin twins Jadeja and Chahal were kept for the middle overs and used to dry up the flow of runs. Their discipline and their ability to bowl dot balls allowed the pressure to build on the Pakistan batsmen, which in turn led to wickets.
Pakistan’s Batting Approach
For the most part, Pakistan looked to use their top order to lay the foundation. An early wicket (Babar Azam’s) was a blow, but Rizwan and Zaman put on a major partnership that kept them in the game. It would almost have come off for them, their play-it-deep strategy, but they weren’t good enough to see the game through against Bumrah and his magic-death-over factory.
Conclusion
T20 World Cup 2024 IND vs PAK Match was a nail bitter… it was like it geme for the world cup. At the same time, India’s remarkable denial to chase, showed how resilient and street smart the team is. The Delhi Capitals won the crucial moments thanks to their key performers such as Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. If you like reading this article then please consider reading our article about Botok Tempe.
