How Bumrah edged out Rashid as MVP

The match was such a vital clash that it needed the best in the business to push their limits, and both Jasprit Bumrah and Rashid Khan may have lived up to their requirements, delivering stellar performances at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Thursday. However, if the Indian spearhead finished on the right side of the result of the contest between India and Afghanistan, it could be because he was more prepared to embrace the challenges than his Afghan counterpart.

Rashid may find it difficult to reconcile with the truth that his figures of three for 26 – claiming the key scalps of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Shivam Dube at seminal moments – were not enough on a slow, challenging track for the batters. But then that was the reality of the situation: Bumrah was simply too powerful for his side. After Rashid claimed the key wickets, the Afghans had to deal with five more formidable batters. The Indian batters came in relentless waves, proving to be an inexhaustible force under the shining sun. With their strengths and batting depths, India should have scored more than 181 for 8.

The challenge with the Rashid phenomenon lies in how and when to best utilize him. Being the captain himself, Rashid often faces a difficult dilemma. In this match, he bowled the seventh, ninth, 11th, and 14th overs, claiming wickets in his first three overs before Hardik Pandya successfully negotiated his last. This left Afghanistan with six overs without their star bowler. Critical questions arise: did Rashid put enough pressure on himself to bowl the tougher overs or was he content to finish by the 14th? After his spell, India added 66 runs, bringing their total to 181 for 8. While not insurmountable, it was competitive enough for the Indian bowlers to defend, particularly when they had Bumrah in their line-up.

Bumrah, on the other hand, was at his penetrative best, rising to the occasion for both his team and captain. He bowled the second, fifth, 16th, and 19th overs, conceding only seven runs. He was simply unstoppable, with his ability to vary speeds effectively, creating a stark contrast between his faster deliveries and slower ones. His yorkers were unmistakably exceptional, with one of them even beating the wicketkeeper. His bouncers were equally dangerous and effective. Swinging the ball both ways, Bumrah emerged as the most complete bowler, impeccably delivering exactly what was needed of him.

Bumrah applied immediate pressure in the second over, claiming the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz with his second delivery of the innings. He swiftly followed it up by dismissing Hazratullah Zazai in his next over. These early blows dented Afghanistan’s chase, and by the end of the PowerPlay, they were struggling at 35 for three. Bumrah returned to rattle them further by dismissing Najibullah Zadran in his third over. At that point, Afghanistan needed an improbable 80 runs from just 28 deliveries with only four wickets in hand.

(Cricbuzz)