India secured a narrow six-run victory over Pakistan in a thrilling low-scoring contest at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. The match, held on a challenging surface, saw key contributions from Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah. Pant’s classy 42-run knock, combined with his exceptional wicket-keeping, and Bumrah’s miserly three-wicket haul played pivotal roles in India’s win.
Following the match, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that his team fell 15-20 runs short with the bat on a pitch where “every run mattered.” He praised Jasprit Bumrah for his “genius” with the ball, which was instrumental in turning the game in India’s favor. Rohit highlighted the confidence within the team due to their strong bowling line-up and their strategy to make early inroads into Pakistan’s batting.
Rohit stated, “We did not bat well enough. Halfway through our innings, we were in a good position. We did not put enough partnership there and fell short with the bat. We spoke about every run matters on a pitch like that. There was enough in the pitch. It was a good wicket to be honest, compared to the last game.”
Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first, putting India to bat on the tough surface. The Indian innings struggled to gain momentum as star openers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed to make significant contributions. Rishabh Pant stood out with his impressive 42-run knock, forming useful partnerships with Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav. Despite Pant’s efforts, the lower middle order crumbled under pressure, leading to India posting a modest total of 119 runs in 19 overs. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah were the top bowlers for Pakistan, with Mohammed Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi also chipping in with crucial wickets.
“The little contributions from everyone make the difference. Whoever has the ball wants to make the difference. Bumrah is going from strength to strength. I am not going to talk too much about him, we want him to be in that kind of mindset till the end of this World Cup, he is a genius with the ball,” he attached.
Rohit hailed the crowd in New York, many of them Indians and Asians, saying, “The crowd was superb, they never disappoint, wherever we play in the world, they come out in huge numbers and support us. They will be going home with a big smile on their face as well. Just the start of the tournament, we have a long way to go.”
In response, Pakistan adopted a measured approach in their run-chase, with Mohammed Rizwan holding one end steady. However, India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, managed to take crucial wickets at key moments. They dismissed important players such as Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed, maintaining constant pressure on the Pakistani batting line-up. Despite a valiant effort by Naseem Shah in the final over, needing 18 runs, Arshdeep Singh ensured India held their nerve to secure a six-run victory.
This win places India at the top of Group A with two wins from two games, accumulating four points, while Pakistan’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage look slim after losing both their games against the USA and India. Jasprit Bumrah was rightfully awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding performance, highlighting his critical role in India’s victory.
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