Part-Timers Finish the Job as India’s Bowlers Overwhelm Pakistan, Spark Debate
Before the highly anticipated India–Pakistan clash even began, much of the discussion centred on how India’s attack — featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy and Hardik Pandya — would handle Pakistan’s batting strength.
Once play started, the contest quickly tilted in India’s favour. Pakistan’s batters looked uncomfortable against both pace and spin, with wickets falling in quick succession and no meaningful partnership taking shape.
By the 12th over, Pakistan were tottering at 78 for 6. With the outcome virtually sealed, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav introduced occasional bowler Tilak Varma into the attack.
The move proved immediately effective — Varma struck with his very first delivery as Shadab Khan was caught by Shivam Dube, reducing Pakistan to 78 for 7.
Suryakumar then handed an over to Rinku Singh as well, who conceded nine runs.
The decision to use part-time bowlers at such a stage triggered strong reactions from several Pakistani commentators and former players, many interpreting it as a sign of how one-sided the match had become.
Former cricketer Basit Ali, speaking on the show Game On Hai alongside Kamran Akmal, remarked that bringing on Rinku and Tilak felt like a harsh statement about Pakistan’s performance, suggesting it reflected the diminished competitive value shown in the match.
A similar sentiment surfaced on another panel discussion, Dug Out, featuring Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Azhar Ali and Azhar Mahmood, where the host observed that India appeared comfortable enough to let almost anyone have a bowl.
By the time Varma completed his over in the 13th, the result was practically beyond doubt.
Cricket analyst Jarrod Kimber later explained that the move also had tactical logic — spin was proving effective on the surface — but joked that giving the ball to a bowler with only a handful of wickets in international T20S usually indicates a match is already decided, which in this case clearly favoured India.
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