It is a famous adage that batters win you matches but it’s the bowlers who win you tournaments and former Indian opener Aakash Chopra reiterated the same after India bowled out England at 129 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Sunday to win by 100 runs.
India posted 229 runs on the board after Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to field. Rohit Sharma top-scored with 87 whereas Suryakumar Yadav also played a crucial knock of 49 runs.
However, it was India’s fast bowlers who put on a bowling masterclass. After England’s openers added 30 runs for the opening alliance, Jasprit Bumrah gave twin strikes as he dismissed Dawid Malan and Joe Root on consecutive balls. Furthermore, Mohammed Shami disturbed Ben Stokes’ woodwork as England found themselves in all sorts of trouble.
Kuldeep Yadav also joined the party as he accounted for Jos Buttler with a beautiful delivery which had England captain flabbergasted. England kept losing wickets at regular intervals as India’s bowling unit showed no mercy.
Aakash Chopra on his YouTube Channel, “Let’s focus on India’s bowling first. As they say – batters win you matches but it’s the bowlers who win you tournaments and this team’s bowling unit is wow. The team scored 229 in total in a 50-over game and won by 100 runs against an England team, which says they will do amazing things.”
Shami returned with impressive figures of 4-22 whereas Jasprit Bumrah registered 3-32 as both the bowlers rattled England’s batting.
“The way Bumrah moved the new ball and then Mohammed Shami – sensational Shami, fantastic Shami, absolutely spectacular Shami. I was slightly disappointed that he wasn’t given the new ball. He came after two or three overs.”
The renowned commentator hailed Shami’s superb over to Ben Stokes when the left-hander had no answers to the fast bowler’s probing line and length.
“First Bumrah went around the stumps and dismissed Dawid Malan, and then Joe Root off the first ball from over the stumps. He was on a hat-trick and so was Mohammed Shami. There was an amazing over to Ben Stokes. Not even one ball hit the bat.”
“If the ball is not hitting the bat and you play a shot like that, you do that in only two situations – either you are extremely confident or you want to run after breaking jail. This time he turned his back and ran away from a fight.”
Chopra lauded Kuldeep Yadav for his unplayable ball to Jos Buttler. Bumrah dismissed Mark Wood whereas Shami rattled Adil Rashid’s stumps with an incoming delivery.
“Then Kuldeep came and embarrassed you, the way he dismissed Jos Buttler. Ravindra Jadeja left Chris Woakes stranded halfway down the pitch, and then Shami and Bumrah again at the death. It is an unbelievable bowling unit.”
With this win, India are on the cusp of qualifying for the semifinals. India will next take on Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday.
