The fifth day of the 3rd Test between India and Australia began with Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah resuming India’s innings from where they had left off the previous day. The pair added a few crucial runs in the early morning before Akash Deep was stumped by Alex Carey off Travis Head’s bowling. With that dismissal, India was bowled out for 260, avoiding the follow-on but trailing by 186 runs.

First Session: Rain Halts Play

Australia started their second innings aiming to extend their lead quickly, but heavy rain soon arrived, disrupting the game. The first session saw minimal play as the rain and wet outfield delayed proceedings. By lunch, India was still trailing, and the weather looked ominous.

Second Session: Australia Goes for Quick Runs

When play resumed after lunch, Australia adopted an aggressive approach. They scored 89 runs in just 18 overs, despite losing seven wickets in the process. The intent was clear — they wanted to build a commanding lead before declaring. Eventually, Australia set a target of 275 for India, declaring their innings to force a result in the match.

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Final Session: Rain and Bad Light End Hopes

India came out to bat with 275 to chase but managed only 2.1 overs, scoring 8 runs without losing a wicket. Just as Mitchell Starc began his spell, dark clouds loomed over the ground, and bad light forced the umpires to stop play. Tea was taken early, and shortly after, the rain returned, washing out the remainder of the day. With the official overs running out and no improvement in weather conditions, the match was declared a draw after discussions between the captains and umpires.

The Impact of Rain and Interruptions

This match saw numerous interruptions, with Day 4 alone witnessing six stoppages. Rain and bad light across the five days frustrated players and fans, disrupting the game’s rhythm. Without these delays, the contest could have been far more thrilling, with both teams having chances to push for a result.

With the series tied at 1–1, the focus now shifts to the next two matches, where India and Australia will fight to take the upper hand in this fiercely contested Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

On a flat track in Barbados, Bumrah bowled two incredible deliveries that got him two wickets. The first one was outstanding, possibly one of the best in the tournament and finals history. It angled into Reeza Hendricks, pitched, and then seamed away to hit the top of off stump, beating the batter’s outside edge.

India’s pace bowlers made a remarkable comeback in the final overs. Even though Axar Patel gave up 24 runs in the 15th over, the pacers stayed calm. Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh took important early wickets, and Hardik Pandya provided great support.

In his first over, Bumrah gave away five runs and eight runs in the next, including one boundary that was a shaky steer through deep third.

Bumrah’s tight bowling in death overs

But his last two overs were crucial. He gave away only four runs in the 16th over and in the 17th over he conceded just two runs. Bumrah’s final figures were 2-18.

In the last five overs, the pacers bowled dot balls and took key wickets, leading to a thrilling seven-run defense. Suryakumar Yadav’s catch was a game-changer, adding to the excitement. The Indian team, cheered on by over a billion fans, celebrated a hard-fought victory that highlighted their determination and skill.

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India secured a commanding 68-run victory over England in the second semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Providence Stadium, Guyana, on Thursday. This win sets up a final clash with South Africa on June 29.

Strong batting performance

India, batting first, posted a competitive total of 171/7. Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with a 57 off 39 balls, his 32nd T20I fifty, while Suryakumar Yadav contributed a crucial 47 off 36 balls. Their partnership of 73 runs was vital, especially after early losses of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant.

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Key contributions

On a slow pitch, Rohit mixed caution with aggression, hitting six fours and two sixes. Suryakumar’s innings was equally important, helping stabilize the innings. Handy runs from Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel towards the end ensured India crossed the 170-run mark. England’s Chris Jordan was the standout bowler with figures of 3-37.

Virat Kohli’s struggles persisted as he managed only 9 runs before being bowled by Reece Topley. Kohli’s early dismissal added pressure, but Rohit and Suryakumar’s partnership provided the necessary stability.

England’s chase falters

England started aggressively with skipper Jos Buttler hitting boundaries, but Axar Patel quickly dismissed him with a reverse sweep that led to an easy catch for Rishabh Pant. Jasprit Bumrah followed up by clean bowling Phil Salt, and Axar continued his dominance by bowling Jonny Bairstow and stumping Moeen Ali.

Kuldeep Yadav’s impact

Kuldeep Yadav joined the wicket-taking spree, trapping Sam Curran LBW and cleaning up Harry Brook, who had scored 25 runs. Kuldeep claimed his third wicket by dismissing Chris Jordan LBW, and his brilliant throw also resulted in Liam Livingstone’s run out. Adil Rashid was run out by Suryakumar Yadav, and Bumrah delivered the final blow by dismissing Jofra Archer LBW, wrapping up England’s innings for just 103 runs in 16.4 overs.

The last instance of a team having an unbeaten run throughout a Men’s ICC tournament was the Champions Trophy 2013 (India).

The two unbeaten teams in the competition will face-off in the final, no team has had an unbeaten run throughout a T20 World Cup previously.

Biggest win margins for India in T20 World Cups

India’s largest victory margin in T20 World Cup history is by 90 runs against England at Colombo RPS in 2012. This is followed by a 73-run win over Australia in Mirpur in 2014, a 71-run triumph against Zimbabwe in Melbourne in 2022, a 68-run win against England at Providence in the 2024 semifinal, and a 66-run victory over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

Biggest win margins in T20 World Cup knockouts (by Runs)

The largest win margin in T20 World Cup knockout matches is held by the West Indies, who defeated Australia by 74 runs at Colombo RPS in the 2012 semifinal. India follows with a 68-run victory over England at Providence in the 2024 semifinal. Sri Lanka secured a 57-run win over the West Indies at The Oval in the 2009 semifinal, and the West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the 2012 final at Colombo RPS.

Player of the Match

Axar Patel | Player of the Match: I have bowled in the powerplay in the past, so I had to bowl in the powerplay, that was the plan. The wicket was stopping and keeping low, so tried to bowl in the right areas. The wicket was slow, so I tried to bowl slower in this match, it worked for me. Wouldn’t have worked had I bowled quicker, would have been easier for their batters. Our batters told us that the wicket wasn’t easy, so 160 was a good total according to us. That partnership (between Rohit and SKY) was magnificent, they scored the occasional boundaries and rotated the strike. Not thinking about Barbados at the moment, will celebrate this player of the match award first.

In the annals of Indian cricket, few stories are as compelling as that of Jasprit Bumrah‘s meteoric rise. From the bylanes of Gujarat to becoming the linchpin of India’s fast-bowling attack, Bumrah’s journey is a testament to resilience and skill. His emergence coincided with a paradigm shift in Indian cricket’s strategy—transitioning from spin to pace dominance under the stewardship of Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri. Bumrah’s unorthodox action and pinpoint accuracy quickly made him a problem for batters worldwide.

Early Life and Initial Struggles

Hailing from a modest background in Gujarat, Bumrah’s path to cricketing stardom was fraught with challenges. The dream of representing India seemed distant, with Bumrah even contemplating a move to Canada for better prospects.

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The pivotal moment in Bumrah’s life came with his selection for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. This platform not only showcased his talent but also set the stage for his future successes.

Bumrah’s Impact on Indian Cricket

Bumrah’s entry into international cricket marked the beginning of a new era for India’s bowling attack. His ability to deliver in all formats brought a fresh dynamism to the team. From crucial Test matches to limited-overs cricket, Bumrah’s performances have been instrumental in many of India’s victories, solidifying his position as a world-class bowler.

Bumrah’s Canadian Dream

Despite his success, Bumrah’s earlier contemplation of moving to Canada for education and a potential cricketing career there highlights the uncertainty that once clouded his future. Choosing to pursue his dream in India, Bumrah’s journey reflects a tale of what might have been versus what has been achieved—a narrative of fortune meeting preparation and talent.

“You wanted to go to Canada and set up a new life there?” Sanjana, the fast bowler’s wife, asked Bumrah.

“We have had these conversations before. Every boy wants to make it big and play cricket. Every street has 25 players who want to play for India. You have to have a backup plan. Our relative lives there. I though I will finish my education and…my uncle lives there. First we though we would go as a family, then my mum did not want to go there as it’s a different culture. I am very happy and very lucky that things worked out, Otherwise I don’t know I would have tried to play for the Canadian team and do something there as well. Glad it worked out here. I am playing for the Indian team and Mumbai Indians,” Bumrah told on Jio Cinema.

Bumrah’s Legacy and Future

Bumrah’s success story is an inspiration to many young cricketers, especially fast bowlers, who see him as a role model for achieving global acclaim. Figures like Manoj Tiwary and others in the cricketing fraternity have lauded Bumrah’s impact, affirming his crucial role in India’s cricketing ambitions, including selections for prestigious tournaments like the T20 World Cup.