India’s win over Pakistan saw one of their best bowling performances under Rahul Dravid, the only other one being in South Africa earlier this year in a Test. Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said considering the context of the game and quality of the opposition and change in the conditions, the Pakistan game should go down as the best.
“Well, there were a couple of them. I thought in a different format. I thought the Test win in South Africa, the last game that we played in South Africa was phenomenal. But yeah, if you look at the context of the game, if you look at the tournament, the pressure, the way we handled the pressure, this was definitely very much up there in terms of the performance, fabulous performance,” Mhambrey said on Tuesday.
India managed to defend 119 against a quality Pakistan side in an intensely fought game on a pitch that eased a little once India started bowling. The Pakistan side, having lost to the USA in an earlier game, were determined and started the chase very well and were 73 for two near half way stage of their innings. India turned things around in the second half of the Pakistan innings, more specifically in the last five overs. India’s total of 119 was also not a steep one but ended up winning by six runs.
“I thought in a game like this, especially when you have so much pressure in terms of the high intensity game, obviously the game against Pakistan is always going to be high intensity, whatever you say, it’s never going to be a normal game. When you’re batting you expect a situation where we were nicely placed to get more runs. But especially when that doesn’t happen, you know you’re defending low scores. And the only way out there is to go and bowl at your best. I think in that context, to be able to defend that score on a wicket which definitely got better was phenomenal,” Mhambrey said.
Jasprit Bumrah was virtually unplayable, returning figures of three for 14 to be later adjudged as the Player of the Match. There were serious efforts from Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj too. “Every individual up there did his job. That’s what we expect at this level. But everything coming together is also important. All the bowlers, the game plan came in. I think we executed our plans very well. And when that happens, the victory is sweet,” Mhambrey (51), who featured in two Tests and three ODIs, said.
India will be up against USA, the tournament co-hosts who are technically an Associate team but Mhambrey said they will take the opposition as seriously as they take any full member side. Given USA’s exploits in the tournament so far, including their historic win over Pakistan, it is only fair that teams guard against complacency while facing them.
“You can’t take any game lightly. This is the World Cup. Every game matters. Your rhythm is important. Winning is a habit that you need to get into early. You need to get in early to perform,” he said, adding, “I think in the context of the game, every game is important. So, for us, it’s going to be like any other game. It’s like we played Pakistan, like we played Ireland (both full members of the ICC). It’s going to be a similar game for us.”
