Former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan did not think twice before calling him the greatest-ever white-ball bowler to have played for the country. Pakistan great Waqar Younis agreed. Jasprit Bumrah showed the world once again why he is peerless in modern-day cricket with a spell for the ages, inspiring India’s heist in New York in a low-scoring T20 World Cup thriller against Pakistan. At the end of 39 overs of dramatic turnarounds, India heaved a sigh of relief and then smiled. Pakistan suffered another unforgettable scar, one that could push them to an early exit, adding to what seems to be never-ending chaos around their senior national team.
On a day when high-quality pacers put on a show for the 34,000-strong crowd at the Nassau County Stadium, Jasprit Bumrah came with magic. There was Naseem Shah’s control, there was Haris Rauf’s mini redemption story, and old warhorse Mohammad Amir’s tenacity. But Bumrah’s genius trumped them all, emerging as the clear box-office winner. 4 overs, 3 wickets and 14 dot balls were the undoing of Pakistan on the big day.
Yes, Pakistan made a meal out of the chase that looked doable. However, it was the bowling brilliance, led by an artist at his peak, that delivered the killer punch to Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan were timid with the bat, but it was understandable as they lacked the quality to deal with the idea of facing Bumrah twice in the powerplay and twice at the death.
“India gave Pakistan a chance of winning by batting poorly. I mean. They could have easily put up maybe 140-150. Losing those 7 wickets right at the end did not really help. India is such a good balanced side. Even if they don’t bat well, they have got Jasprit Bumrah, they have got Siraj, they have got Jadeja. They have got their bowling really covered and fielding also. They are a super team. Pakistan, if you can’t win this game, then what should I say? This was on a plate given to you. And you really spilled itâæ. Pakistan poorly played and I think it’s a result of India’s brilliance.” a disgruntled Waqar Younis said to the broadcaster, echoing the disappointment of millions of Pakistan fans on Sunday.
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India posted only 119 on the board, their lowest total in a T20 World Cup match against Pakistan. Their big guns, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, did not arrive to the party in New York. Thanks to Rishabh Pant’s 42 and Axar Patel’s 20, India huffed and puffed to a total that kept them in the hunt.
However, 119 wouldn’t have comforted the Indian dressing room. At the halfway mark, Pakistan would have been hopeful of a famous victory — one that could have helped them put behind the heartbreak of the defeat to the USA and silence their critics.
As expected, win predictors were heavily tilted towards Babar Azam’s men. And they leaned towards Pakistan more when Jasprit Bumrah did not open the bowling for India. Pakistan began with two cover drives for three runs each against Arshdeep Singh, who had the new ball. Mohammed Siraj operated from the other end. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar was fuming asking, failing to understand why Bumrah did not have a crack at Babar and Mohammad Rizwan early.
BUMRAH LANDS THE FIRST BLOW
15 for 0 read the scoreboard at the end of the first two overs. The green shirts at the Nassau County Cricket Ground started to get noisy and outvoice the blue ones in the crowd. Rohit Sharma, however, unleashed his biggest weapon in the third over. Bumrah managed to pull things back, giving away just four runs in his first over. He returned for another one in the powerplay and gave India hope, got the prized wicket of Babar Azam with one that took off from a good length. Babar was not able to ride the bounce and only managed to steer the ball to Suryakumar Yadav, who took a low diving catch at first slip.
Seeing Babar Azam’s back early in the chase must have given India a bit of confidence and hope to those in blue at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium. Babar’s wicket also took away the fluency from Pakistan’s batting. Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan did well to not give another one to the Bumrah-led hunting pack of pacers, but Pakistan managed just 35 runs in the powerplay.
Yet, Mohammad Rizwan held the innings together as Pakistan reached 57 for 1 at the 10-over mark, keeping themselves in the hunt on a pitch where stroke-making was getting more and more difficult. Rohit went to Ravindra Jadeja, but the senior spinner was not able to provide India a breakthrough in the first 10 overs. When he turned to Axar Patel in the 11th over, the left-arm spinner struck in his first over, removing Usman Khan.
BUMRAH RETURNS, PAKISTAN’S HOPE DIMINISH
However, Fakhar Zaman, the only batter in the top four who played T20-style cricket on Sunday, got going with a six against Axar Patel. As the explosive left-hander released the pressure, Babar Azam, who was in the dugout, punched the air in a gesture of mini celebration. However, the joy was shortlived as Hardik Pandya got the big wicket of Fakhar for 13 (8 balls) in the 13th over. Rohit Sharma was on point with his bowling changes as he did not bring back Axar against the left-hander after that big six in the 11th over.
Imad Wasim then joined Mohammad Rizwan and Pakistan still had the upper hand in their chase. At the end of the 14th over, Pakistan were 80 for 3 and the win predictors were still favouring the 2009 champions. 40 runs in the last six overs looked doable, but Pakistan had to negate two overs of Bumrah in that period.
And when Rohit Sharma turned to Jasprit Bumrah for an over in his second spell, the magician delivered. Bumrah cracked the game wide open and rubbished the win predictors when he rattled Mohammad Rizwan’s woodwork. Bumrah aimed for the stumps. His delivery kept a tad low but jagged back considerably to hit the stumps. Rizwan never judged length of the delivery properly and paid the price for it.
Jasprit Bumrah brought out the trademark smile after getting the big fish. The blue shirts in the crowd found their voice. The decibel levels hit the roof and there were a few nervous Pakistan fans already.
As expected, Pakistan panicked after losing Rizwan. The equation came down to 21 off the last two overs. Pakistan still had Iftikhar Ahmed, someone who consistently finished games in the Pakistan Super League, in the middle.
EVEN FULL TOSS IS A WEAPON FOR BUMRAH
21 off 2 was very much doable, despite the New York pitch playing tricks. In modern-day T20, batters don’t doubt themselves when 10 runs are needed per over. However, India had an over of Bumrah saved for the situation.
When Rohit called upon Bumrah to deliver the 19th over, panic in the Pakistan camp only grew. Bumrah rattled Imad Wasim in the first deliver of the 19th over with a vicious off-cutter that kicked off from a good length and rapped the left-handed batter on his shoulder. It was a warning sign from Bumrah. The next one was a masterful slower bouncer that Iftikhar decided to leave one. The one that followed was left the right-hander after pitching in line. Bumrah was finding seam movement and the chink in Pakistan’s armour in the 19th over.
On Sunday, it once again became clear that a Bumrah full toss is rarely a scoring opportunity. Pakistan were so shaken that even two full tosses were not punished. The second one got the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed.
“Why cannot they hit Bumrah’s full tosses? It is because of the fear of his name. He puts terror in the batters’ mind,” Pakistan great Waqar Younis said after the match.
21 off 2 looked doable. But 18 off the last over did not. The usual suspect Jsapit Bumrah delivered again when India needed him the most. Arshdeep Singh had the cushion of 17 in the last over. He gave away 11. Naseem Shah swung his bat and two boundaries in the last over, but it was not enough.
The Indian bowling unit’s brilliance was a lesson for cricket administrators. Maybe they should think of adding a Bumrah factor in win predictors!