Bumrah’s class was on display against Pakistan: Kaif

Defending a paltry score of 119, India needed the best of Jasprit Bumrah against their arch-rivals Pakistan. When Pakistan raced away to 26 after 4.4 overs, it felt like the game was moving away from the Men in Blue before Bumrah removed Pakistan’s ace batter, Babar Azam, with a perfect length delivery. 

It wasn’t just that, the speedster returned later in the 15th over, removing the in-form Mohammad Rizwan, who was well set on 31 off 44 deliveries. Bumrah’s night didn’t end there, with him putting the final nail in the coffin, removing Ifthikar Ahmed. 

“This is just the beginning. We talked about this last time in the World Cup. We missed him so much in 2022. Bumrah comes and this is the turning point. Batsman was set and he was planning to hit a six. He missed the catch on the first ball. Rizwan likes to cut and pull,” said Kaif on Star Sports.

“Bumrah knows exactly which ball to hit. Batsman doesn't know where to hit the ball. He hit the ball in front and got up there and caught Iftikhar with his speed. He must have been disappointed. He could have hit the ball at a good height. But this is Bumrah's class. If we look at Bumrah's last over, he is hitting a slower bouncer. He is also hitting a yorker. He is hitting an on-pace ball. Batsman doesn't know which ball is coming. Bumrah knows exactly how to play in a death over,” he added.

Rohit Sharma’s captaincy too was top-notch, with the Mumbaikar rotating his bowlers to the fullest. It was Rohit’s masterclass decision to switch his bowlers around, with Hardik Pandya striking twice and Axar Patel too removing Usman Khan. 

“I think he used it correctly. He is a good captain. Because last over was in the 19th over.  He has to stop them.  That's why in a low-scoring game,  people say, what is 119?  You let your main bowler bowl first, right,” Kaif applauded Rohit’s captaincy. 

“They know exactly that Bumrah has to keep him in the middle of the over. Each over is like a diamond in the rough. That's how much his ball was worth in today's match,” he added.

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