Jasprit Bumrah delivered a dramatic first over against Pakistan on Sunday, February 15, at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The Indian pace spearhead conceded 13 runs but struck twice in a high-voltage contest.
Defending a target of 176, India had the perfect start when Hardik Pandya removed the dangerous Sahibzada Farhan off the fourth ball of the innings. Hardik’s tight first over, which went for no runs, immediately put Pakistan under pressure.
Bumrah began his spell with a short-of-length delivery to Saim Ayub. The left-hander charged down the track attempting a slog, but the ball swung away, resulting in a top edge that sailed over third man for six.
Unfazed, Bumrah responded like a seasoned campaigner. He pitched the next delivery full, and it jagged back sharply into Ayub’s pads. Beaten for pace, the opener was trapped in front, and umpire Kumar Dharmasena raised his finger without hesitation.
Babar Azam then walked in and got off the mark soon after. However, Pakistan suffered another setback when skipper Salman Ali Agha played a loose shot. Attempting to flick a short-of-length delivery over mid-wicket, he managed only a leading edge. Hardik settled under the ball at mid-on to complete a simple catch, giving Bumrah his second wicket of a memorable over.
