India faced a devastating batting collapse in Match 19 of the 2024 T20 World Cup against their arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9 (Sunday). At the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, Rohit Sharma and his team lost their last seven wickets for a mere 30 runs. Asked to bat first on a challenging New York surface, the Men in Blue struggled from the outset, with senior openers Rohit Sharma (13) and Virat Kohli (4) dismissed within the first three overs.

Despite the early setbacks, Rishabh Pant (42 off 31 balls) and Axar Patel (20 off 18 balls) provided some stability, putting together a 39-run partnership for the third wicket. Their efforts brought some hope, but just as the partnership was beginning to flourish, Axar was dismissed by Naseem Shah. Suryakumar Yadav initially looked promising, and India reached 89/3. However, what followed was a catastrophic collapse, with wickets falling at regular intervals. India’s batting line-up crumbled, and they were eventually bowled out for 119 in 19 overs.

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In-depth Analysis of Pakistan’s Biggest Collapse in T20 WC

🏏 @BCCI Snatches Victory from the Jaws of Defeat, Courtesy @TheRealPCB#cricket #PakvsInd #t20worldcup pic.twitter.com/WvsjnmdQBI

— Saiprasad Kagne (@KEVLAR2601) June 10, 2024

There is always a twist in an India-Pakistan clash, especially when Pakistan are in the driver’s seat. With Pakistan at 72/2 in the 12th over, chasing a modest target of 120, and needing just 48 more runs off 48 balls with two key batters well settled, the match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York seemed all but over. The rivalry appeared to be heading towards a straightforward victory for Pakistan.

However, the unthinkable then occurred. Although nothing is ever truly unthinkable in a Pakistan cricket match, the collapse that followed was extraordinary even by their standards. Needing just 48 runs from 48 balls with eight wickets in hand, Babar Azam’s team managed to score only 41 more runs. This astonishing collapse led to one of the most embarrassing defeats in Pakistan’s history, regardless of the format.

When you score 41/5 off 8 overs to bottle a game that was firmly in the bag, there can’t just be one turning point. This Pakistan collapse had multiple moments that contributed to their inexplicable failure to get over the line. The first key moment was the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman. The Men in Green were coasting with Fakhar and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease. Fakhar, who had raced to 13 off his first 7 balls, was looking in sublime touch, and his wicket began the unraveling.

The second pivotal moment was Mohammad Rizwan’s brainfade on the first ball of the 15th over, when Pakistan still needed 40 off 36 balls and the chase was under control. Rohit Sharma brought Jasprit Bumrah back into the attack, and all Rizwan needed to do was see off India’s biggest threat. Instead, in a decision that defied logic, Rizwan attempted a cross-batted slog on the first ball of Bumrah’s third over and got his stumps rattled. This reckless shot significantly shifted the momentum, setting the stage for Pakistan’s dramatic collapse.

Up until this point, India looked like a team that did not believe. But now they believed. Now they had their tails up. Pakistan started to get flashbacks. The third and final turning point was the 16th over bowled by Axar Patel. With 37 needed off 30 balls, Pakistan were under pressure but still marginal favorites. India did not yet have the game fully under control. That changed after Axar’s third over, which went for just two runs.

This over had a comical undertone to it, one of those ‘you have to see it to believe it’ moments. Axar kept bowling the same ball repeatedly: a slider from ’round the wicket that went across the left-hander. Imad Wasim responded by playing three identical dot balls, attempting the exact same cut shot each time. This sequence not only added to the mounting pressure on Pakistan but also firmly shifted the momentum in India’s favor, solidifying their belief in an unlikely victory.