• Sportzyverse
• T20 World Cup 2024
• 06/10/2024
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In a tense T20 World Cup match held in New York, Pakistan suffered a narrow six-run loss to India, leaving head coach Gary Kirsten visibly frustrated. Kirsten didn’t hold back his criticism, emphasizing the costly mistakes that ultimately led to Pakistan’s downfall.

Challenging Target and Missed Opportunities

The target of 120 set by India seemed tricky from the outset. However, Kirsten noted that Pakistan appeared to have the upper hand at 72 for two with eight overs to spare. Despite the challenging conditions, Pakistan’s position seemed promising until critical errors shifted the momentum in India’s favour.

“Disappointing loss, that’s for sure,” Kirsten stated. “I knew 120 was not going to be an easy target. If India got only 120, it was always going to be not the easiest. But I think we had the game at 72 for 2 with six or seven overs left. Disappointing not to get across the line from the position we got ourselves into.”

Mohammad Rizwan played a crucial role in Pakistan’s chase during the initial stages, scoring 31 off 44 balls. However, his dismissal marked a turning point in the game. In a crucial moment, Rizwan attempted to slog Jasprit Bumrah’s first ball of a fresh spell, resulting in his wicket. Bumrah’s subsequent dismissal of Iftikhar Ahmed further destabilized Pakistan’s chase, leading to his match-winning figures of 3 for 14, which included 11 dot balls.

Kirsten on Poor Decision-Making

Kirsten attributed Pakistan’s loss to poor decision-making at crucial junctures. He pointed out that with eight wickets in hand and a run-a-ball requirement, Pakistan should have capitalized on their strong position but instead faltered due to critical errors.

“Maybe not so great decision making. You have got the game on, run a ball, eight wickets in hand, decision making at that point. That’s the game. That’s international cricket for you. You make mistakes like that, you are going to pay. I thought we made some poor decisions at important phases of the game. I thought Rizwan played well for us. We knew it was going to be a tough wicket to bat on. We managed the chase very well but then just let it slip in the end,” Kirsten remarked.

India’s bowlers, led by Bumrah, displayed remarkable resilience under pressure. Despite the improving batting conditions, Bumrah’s calmness and strategic bowling turned the tide. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award, highlighting his crucial role in India’s narrow victory.

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Pakistan will aim to regroup and rectify their mistakes as they prepare to face Canada on June 11 in New York. They will conclude their group-stage campaign against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill. Kirsten’s critical analysis underscores the importance of learning from their errors to ensure a stronger performance in the upcoming matches.

Gary Kirsten’s blunt assessment of Pakistan’s loss to India underscores the fine margins that define international cricket. The former South Africa cricketer and 2011 World Cup-winning coach’s insights highlight the critical nature of decision-making in high-pressure situations. As Pakistan prepares for their next matches, the lessons from this defeat could prove pivotal in their quest for success in the T20 World Cup.