In a high-octane T20 World Cup clash held in New York, India’s batting lineup collapsed dramatically against Pakistan, managing only 119 runs in 19 overs. This unexpected outcome set social media abuzz, with fans and experts weighing in on the surprising turn of events.

The Match Setup: Early Overs and Key Dismissals

Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl first, leveraging the overcast conditions and a pitch favoring bowlers.

Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma’s Early Dismissal

The Indian innings started on a shaky note. Virat Kohli, India’s stalwart, was dismissed by the young Usman Khan on the third delivery of the second over. Following Kohli, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also found himself under pressure. Facing three consecutive balls from Shaheen Afridi, Rohit attempted a flick over square but was caught in the deep by Haris Rauf. His departure, after scoring just 13 runs, left India reeling.

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Middle Order Collapse

Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav’s Dismissals

Axar Patel, coming in at a crucial moment, was bowled by Naseem Shah in the 8th over. Suryakumar Yadav, the ICC World Number 1 T20I batter, continued his poor run against Pakistan, scoring only 7 runs before being dismissed by Haris Rauf in the 12th over.

Shivam Dube’s attempt to stabilize the innings ended prematurely as he scooped the ball to Naseem, departing soon after Suryakumar. The middle order’s failure to build partnerships severely hurt India’s prospects.

Pakistan’s Bowling Performance

Naseem Shah’s Impact

Naseem Shah’s spell was pivotal. He dismissed critical players like Virat Kohli and Axar Patel and managed to get Shivam Dube, turning the tide firmly in Pakistan’s favor.

Haris Rauf’s Comeback

Haris Rauf had a roller-coaster spell. Initially dispatched for three boundaries in his first over, he made a strong comeback, conceding only a single run in his second over and picking up the prized wicket of Suryakumar Yadav.

Mohammad Amir’s Vital Spell

Mohammad Amir’s spell further dismantled the Indian batting lineup. In the 15th over, he took consecutive wickets, dismissing Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.

Fans and Expert Reactions

The dramatic turn of events sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Fans expressed shock and disappointment over India’s collapse. Memes and trolls targeting the Indian batting lineup flooded the internet. Experts, meanwhile, provided in-depth analyses, highlighting technical flaws and strategic missteps by the Indian team.