LONG ISLAND (NY): Jasprit Bumrah, who played a decisive role in India’s World Cup win over Pakistan at the Nassau County Stadium, has claimed that it was calmness and utter belief that helped them cross the line against Pakistan on Sunday.
India defended their lowest ever T20 World Cup total exhibiting utmost coolness in the middle to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeats against a jittery Pakistan batting line-up that lacked the proper execution plan to chase down even a low total.
“We knew well that 120 runs were too low but yet we were confident that if India was unable to set a good total, Pakistan might also struggle to achieve this. So it the utter calmness and confidence that took us closer to the win which we ultimately achieved.”
Bumrah added that the team’s watchword in defending a low total was never to panic.
“That one hope which we had in our mind was that it was not an easy wicket and chasing down even a low total could be a tricky affair. Getting to our job the way we had planned was the key to success. The best thing was we never got panicked even when Pakistan looked well on their way during the middle stage of their innings.”
Bumrah, whose last two overs did it for India, said there was no real movement in the pitch which was moving square early in the innings.
“Yet there was something. Though Pakistan bowlers got good support from the wicket, once the sun started blazing, conditions became easier for batting. Yes, my last two overs were crucial, especially the second last one, which actually turned the tide in our favour.”
Bumrah though termed Mohammad Rizwan’s wicket as a key one, he said that it was continuous pressure that actually helped India achieve the win.
“We knew well that a continuous pressure could win us the match. That was what we planned and achieved.”
The Indian premier fast bowler who returned with his best World Cup T20 figures of 3-14 praised his captain Rohit Sharma for keeping the game plan operational throughout Pakistan’s batting line up.
“We kept following that one element which was to pursue the game plan and not to panic even if you concede one odd boundary in between. Ultimately it was the batting side that came under pressure. Rohit as a captain played a big role in that win.”
On Indian batting performance, he said there was considerable swing during the early part of the day. “Batting was never easy early Sunday morning.
The ball was swinging and making it difficult for the batsmen to play shots. We were unable to even play the full 20 overs.
Despite that, we were confident of making it difficult for Pakistan to chase the total.”
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