The showdown between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024 Group A encounter was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. In a nail-biting clash, both teams showcased their bowling prowess, turning the match into a spectacle of skill and determination.
India’s innings kicked off with a flurry of excitement but ended with a modest total of 119 runs, all wickets falling by the 19th over. However, this seemingly modest score morphed into a formidable challenge as India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya unleashed a bowling masterclass, thwarting Pakistan’s attempts to chase down the target. Despite Naseem Shah’s valiant effort towards the end, Pakistan fell short by just six runs, leaving their T20 World Cup aspirations hanging by a thread.
The heart-wrenching sight of Naseem shedding tears post-match encapsulated the emotional rollercoaster that cricket can be, with his teammate Shaheen Afridi offering solace in the face of defeat. Pakistan’s fans echoed Naseem’s sentiments, lamenting the injustice of the outcome despite his stellar performance with both ball and bat.
Also Read: ‘Embarrassing’: Pakistan Cricket Fans Troll Their Own Team After Shocking Defeat to India
One irate fan expressed the frustration on ‘X’, writing, “If naseem can hit two boundaries back to back WHAT THE F*** WAS OUR ENTIRE MIDDLE ORDER DOING.” Another fan echoed the sentiment, criticising the highly-paid batsmen and calling for changes: “Even Naseem Shah, our young bowler, played better than our highly paid batsmen. The time has come, if you’re not performing well, please resign gracefully and let others join. It’s time to take strict decisions, or they’ll never understand.”
Naseem Shah in tears after losing the match. pic.twitter.com/ZHR0xevcHc— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 9, 2024
If naseem can hit two boundaries back to back WHAT THE FUCK WAS OUR ENTIRE MIDDLE ORDER DOING— H™ (@MahatmaaGanji) June 9, 2024
Naseem took more initiative in his 2 balls than your entire fucking lineup of pure batters and all rounders did lol joke team— rameen (@rameenwhile) June 9, 2024
Naseem Shah and the bowlers, you once again deserved better. pic.twitter.com/guaRhcPr96— Switch Hit (@_SwitchHit) June 9, 2024
Even Naseem Shah, our young bowler, played better than our highly paid batsmen. The time has come, if you’re not performing well, please resign gracefully and let others join. It’s time to take strict decisions, or they’ll never understand. #PakvsIndpic.twitter.com/kkV9LZntFX— Saad Kaiser (@TheSaadKaiser) June 9, 2024
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The only “MAN” who plays for 220 million people, everytime. If his eyes are flooding with tears, you know how low has this side stooped to. Not one other player looked disappointed. Not one! Naseem did everything with both bat and ball, and was the only passionate player. Sigh. pic.twitter.com/zmldkDKCc1— Pakistani Shaheens Brigade (@ShaheensBrigade) June 9, 2024
Meanwhile, the game saw Naseem giving Pakistan a dream start after captain Babar Azam opted to bowl first. He swiftly dismissed India’s nemesis Virat Kohli for just 4 (3) in the second over, and later shattered Axar Patel’s stumps in his second over, ending a crucial partnership for India. Naseem also claimed the wicket of Shivam Dube (3 off 9) in the 14th over, keeping India under constant pressure and bundling them out for a mere 119 in 19 overs.
Also Read: ‘Hardik Pandya is a Beast Against Pakistan’: Indian All-rounder’s Redemption Greeted With Viral Memes
Pakistan began their chase confidently, reaching 73/2 after 12 overs. However, relentless pressure from the Indian bowlers led to crucial mistakes, leaving Pakistan needing 18 runs from the last five balls. Naseem’s two boundaries in the final moments offered a glimmer of hope, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough. With this loss, Pakistan faces the grim prospect of an early exit from the tournament, having lost both of their matches so far.
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