The match was such a vital clash that it needed the best in the business to push their limits, and both Jasprit Bumrah and Rashid Khan may have lived up to their requirements, delivering stellar performances at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Thursday. However, if the Indian spearhead finished on the right side of the result of the contest between India and Afghanistan, it could be because he was more prepared to embrace the challenges than his Afghan counterpart.
Rashid may find it difficult to reconcile with the truth that his figures of three for 26 – claiming the key scalps of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Shivam Dube at seminal moments – were not enough on a slow, challenging track for the batters. But then that was the reality of the situation: Bumrah was simply too powerful for his side. After Rashid claimed the key wickets, the Afghans had to deal with five more formidable batters. The Indian batters came in relentless waves, proving to be an inexhaustible force under the shining sun. With their strengths and batting depths, India should have scored more than 181 for 8.
The challenge with the Rashid phenomenon lies in how and when to best utilize him. Being the captain himself, Rashid often faces a difficult dilemma. In this match, he bowled the seventh, ninth, 11th, and 14th overs, claiming wickets in his first three overs before Hardik Pandya successfully negotiated his last. This left Afghanistan with six overs without their star bowler. Critical questions arise: did Rashid put enough pressure on himself to bowl the tougher overs or was he content to finish by the 14th? After his spell, India added 66 runs, bringing their total to 181 for 8. While not insurmountable, it was competitive enough for the Indian bowlers to defend, particularly when they had Bumrah in their line-up.
“It’s important when you have a hunch and you want to attack and you bowl three (four) overs for 26, I think no matter when you bowl you’ve done a good job,” Jonathan Trott, the Afghanistan coach, said defending his captain’s calls. “So whenever Rash bowls, whenever Rash turns the game around like he did for us today, I think it’s brilliant. It’s not just one bowler. Other people have to bowl the 16 other overs to be bowled. And it’s the responsibility of other bowlers to be able to execute the plans that we put in place, which is crucial, especially on a pitch like this where we can set ourselves something that’s attainable.
“So, I thought Rash bowled brilliantly. And he has high expectations of himself and he delivered. Everybody else could follow suit. That would be great.”
Trott went on to stress the point further: “The captain decides when he bowls, I don’t have a problem with the way Rashid finished and when he did. If he had taken another wicket or if he had got Pandya out last ball, we would be sitting here saying it’s a masterstroke. So, I think hindsight is a fantastic thing. I don’t think Rashid finishing the game or finishing his bowling in the 14th over is the reason why we lost the game.”
A closer look at the dismissals raises questions about whether the Indian batters could have been more judicious in their shot selection, particularly in such a crucial game. Virat Kohli’s wicket was somewhat a lucky break for Rashid, as Kohli hit a half-volley straight down long-off’s throat. Shivam Dube’s wicket may have showcased Rashid’s genius, with the ball spinning back more than the batter had anticipated, leading to a poor shot choice from the big hitter. Rishabh Pant’s wicket, however, was more contentious. Out to a fuller length delivery while attempting a reverse sweep, it remains debatable whether it was a stroke of luck or the result of the bowler’s guile.
Bumrah, on the other hand, was at his penetrative best, rising to the occasion for both his team and captain. He bowled the second, fifth, 16th, and 19th overs, conceding only seven runs. He was simply unstoppable, with his ability to vary speeds effectively, creating a stark contrast between his faster deliveries and slower ones. His yorkers were unmistakably exceptional, with one of them even beating the wicketkeeper. His bouncers were equally dangerous and effective. Swinging the ball both ways, Bumrah emerged as the most complete bowler, impeccably delivering exactly what was needed of him.
The Indian bowlers in general and Bumrah, in particular, perfectly exploited the slowness of the pitch by bowling a lot of cutters. Afghanistan being bowled out for 134 was a testament to the skill and effectiveness of the Indian bowlers. Bumrah delivered crucial wickets when the team needed them most. In pursuit of 182, Afghanistan initially decided to take on the Indian attack fearlessly, smashing a four and a six off Arshdeep Singh’s first over, but ultimately, the Indian bowling attack proved too strong.
Bumrah applied immediate pressure in the second over, claiming the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz with his second delivery of the innings. He swiftly followed it up by dismissing Hazratullah Zazai in his next over. These early blows dented Afghanistan’s chase, and by the end of the PowerPlay, they were struggling at 35 for three. Bumrah returned to rattle them further by dismissing Najibullah Zadran in his third over. At that point, Afghanistan needed an improbable 80 runs from just 28 deliveries with only four wickets in hand.
“We know what Bumrah can do for us. It is important for us to use him smartly. He is the one who is ready to take the responsibility as well. Wherever he plays, he is always ready to take the responsibility,” skipper Rohit Sharma said of the sagacious use of Bumrah, which was as important as the skills of the player. Among many things Afghanistan and their skipper Rashid Khan can well learn this from the experience of their Indian counterpart.
