Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was present at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium with wife Anjali and daughter Sara, took to social media to praise the Indian team’s performance and the electric atmosphere in New York.
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Tendulkar tweeted: “India vs Pakistan. New continent, same result. T20 may be a batters’ game, but in New York, bowlers were the Apple of our eyes today. What a thrilling match! Great atmosphere and a wonderful exhibition of our great game in America. Well played, India.”
India, after being bowled out for a modest 119 in 19 overs, faced a challenging task to defend their total. Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan managed a steady 31 runs, but it was Bumrah’s exceptional spell that turned the tide in India’s favor. His figures of 3-14 in four overs, including key wickets of Pakistan captain Babar Azam (13) and Rizwan, were instrumental in restricting Pakistan to 113/7.
The match witnessed a record attendance of 34,028, the highest for an international cricket match in the USA, providing an exhilarating contest that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Bumrah’s critical breakthroughs came at crucial moments. He dismissed Babar Azam early and then broke the back of Pakistan’s chase by removing Rizwan in the 15th over when Pakistan was 80/4. Given the ball for the penultimate over with Pakistan needing 21 to win, Bumrah conceded just three runs and took the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed with his final ball, leaving Pakistan requiring an improbable 18 from the final over.
Arshdeep Singh added to the drama by dismissing Imad Wasim with the first ball of the final over. Despite a valiant effort from Naseem Shah, who hit consecutive fours, India held their nerve to seal their second win of the tournament.
Tendulkar’s presence and his enthusiastic support added to the significance of the event. His praise for the bowlers and the overall atmosphere underscored the growing appeal and competitive spirit of cricket in the United States.
