Jasprit Bumrah appears blissfully unaware of the popular perception that T20 cricket is a batter-friendly format as India’s pace spearhead delivered another match-winning performance in the World Cup blockbuster against Pakistan.
Bumrah may not enjoy the rock-star status afforded to Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma back home but the 30-year-old is the go-to man when India’s batsmen flounder, like they did in the Group A contest against arch-rivals Pakistan, who bundled out India for 119 with one over left in their innings in New York.
Babar Azam’s team looked on course for victory at 80 for three after 14 overs before Bumrah intervened.
The seamer bowled a well-set Mohammad Rizwan (31) to bring India back into the contest, though Pakistan still looked in charge needing 21 runs from 12 balls with five wickets in hand.
The right-arm seamer with a slingshot action then returned to send down a decisive penultimate over. Bumrah conceded only three runs in that over while removing Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistan’s final hope, to set up India’s six-run win.
Bumrah’s 24 deliveries included 15 dot balls, illustrating the accuracy which makes him such an asset especially in this format. “We’ve seen what he can do,” Rohit said. “We want him to be in that kind of mindset till the end of the World Cup. He’s a genius with the ball.”
Pakistan risk an early exit after an upset by the United States in their opener.
Bumrah, who finished with three for 14, said there was less assistance for the bowlers in the second innings but did not have trouble adjusting.
“Even when there is help, you can be desperate and try to pull off that magic delivery,” he said. “We had to be accurate because if you go for magic deliveries, run making becomes easy.”
Hong Kong United Times丨香港聯合時報丨HKUT 