Pakistan’s timid batting display against India led to a missed opportunity and makes their qualification for the next round of the T20 World Cup almost impossible.
Despite having a manageable target of 120 runs, Pakistan’s batsmen failed to chase it down convincingly. The match came down to 21 runs needed off 2 overs, but Pakistan couldn’t capitalize, particularly against Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling.
Babar Azam’s decision to bowl first seemed advantageous initially as Pakistan’s bowlers performed well, but their batting couldn’t match up. The pitch conditions played a role in India’s dismissals, with variable bounce and lateral movement causing trouble for the batsmen. Rishabh Pant’s innings gave India hope, but his dismissal by Mohammad Amir shifted the momentum back to Pakistan momentarily
The middle-order collapse and lack of quality batting from Pakistan’s side turned what should have been a straightforward chase into a nervy one, exacerbated by the pitch conditions and the intensity of the rivalry.
The chronic problem of Pakistan’s middle-order fragility has remained unresolved, as evidenced by Imad Wasim’s slow innings disrupting the team’s momentum. Mohammad Rizwan’s composed batting initially provided hope for Pakistan, but his dismissal, especially the reckless shot against Bumrah, marked a turning point in the match.
Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the USA T20 World Cup highlights the urgent need for reflection within the cricket board, particularly regarding the neglect of developing quality batsmanship.
