Led by star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, India beat Pakistan by six runs in the sides' T20 World Cup clash in New York on Sunday. The Men in Blue recorded their lowest-ever defended total in T20 internationals, keeping Pakistan at bay despite a paltry first-innings score of 119 on the board.
After being put in to bat, India lost openers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the second and third overs respectively, before a 39-run stand between Rishabh Pant and the promoted Axar Patel steadied the ship. However, Axar's dismissal triggered a collapse, and India lost their last seven wickets for just 30 runs, posting 119.
In reply, Pakistan captain Babar Azam got off to a quick start but he departed early, caught at slip off Bumrah. Slowly but steadily, Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan guided Pakistan to 57-1 by the 10-over mark, at which point they looked favourites to chase down the score. But India struck thrice in four overs after that; Usman was trapped lbw by Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya got rid of Fakhar Zaman and Bumrah returned to knock over Rizwan.
From there, India, led by Bumrah, manage to put the brakes on the run-scoring and the pressure told as Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals; Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim all came and went without making a real impact and despite a couple of boundaries from Naseem Shah in the final over, Pakistan could not get over the line.
Indian pace spearhead Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers, with 3-14 in his 4 overs. He was also named Player of the Match.
What are India's lowest defended totals in T20Is?
119 vs Pakistan, New York 2024
138-6 vs Zimbabwe, Harare 2016: Kedar Jadhav top-scored with 58 as India posted a subpar 138-6 against Zimbabwe, but restrictive bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Dhawal Kulkarni saw them eke out a three-run victory.
144-8 vs England, Nagpur 2017: In 2017, India's batting lineup collapsed against England but KL Rahul's 71 helped them score 144-8. Ashish Nehra (3-28) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-20) then struck up front and at the death to secure a win by just five runs.
146-7 vs Bangladesh, Bengaluru 2016: In a now-unforgettable match, the 2016 T20 World Cup saw India come to the brink of defeat against Bangladesh, until they took three wickets off the last three balls of the match and registered a one-run win, capped off by MS Dhoni's sprinting run-out of Mustafizur Rahman.
152-6 vs South Africa, Colombo 2012: Defending 152 against South Africa in the 2012 T20 World Cup, India looked down and out when Lakshmipathy Balaji was hit for two sixes in the final over, defending 14. However, the pacer got things right to knock over Morne Morkel with his penultimate delivery and ensure the Men in Blue got over the line by one run.
