Pakistan’s World Cup 2024 match against India ended in disappointment as they faltered in the final moments, surrendering a game they had largely controlled in New York on Sunday.
Despite chasing a modest target of 120 runs, the Green Shirts could only muster 113 for the loss of 7 wickets, inexplicably losing momentum and facing the prospect of an early exit from the tournament.
Pakistan received early reprieves when both openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, were dropped by Indian fielders. However, Jasprit Bumrah’s performance proved crucial, dismissing Babar and posing a continuous threat to the Pakistani batsmen.
While other players in Pakistan’s lineup made double-figure contributions, they failed to capitalize on them, with Rizwan’s dismissal by Bumrah in the 15th over marking a turning point. Despite the valiant efforts, Pakistan fell short, finishing at 113-7, seven runs shy of victory.
Earlier, Pakistan’s pacers took advantage of New York’s overcast conditions, restricting India to 119 runs.
Virat Kohli’s dismissal by Usman Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s crucial wickets set the tone for India’s innings. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir also made significant contributions, further stifling India’s batting lineup.
The match between these cricketing powerhouses, held at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, attracted significant attention, with tickets sold out well in advance. Pakistan’s loss in this crucial encounter jeopardized their chances of progressing to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
Weather conditions added to the tension, with a significant chance of rain forecasted before the match began. Despite the defeat, Pakistan’s focus remains on future matches, with Coach Gary Kirsten expressing optimism and emphasizing the need to move forward from previous setbacks.
The match highlighted concerns about the challenging nature of the pitches in the tournament, with both teams acknowledging the difficulties posed by the conditions.
Team Lineups: India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Siraj
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir
