With two defeats in two matches, Pakistan's path to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 appears challenging. After suffering an unexpected loss to co-hosts USA in their tournament opener, Pakistan faced another setback against arch-rivals India. Despite maintaining the upper hand for most of the game, they ultimately fell short by six runs, largely due to India's Jasprit Bumrah's superb bowling performance.
Currently sitting with zero points, Pakistan's chances hinge on winning their remaining matches against Canada and Ireland. Additionally, they require either India or the USA to lose their upcoming fixtures. A key factor is the outcome of the India vs USA match, with Pakistan hoping it isn't washed out, as a draw would benefit both teams.
Even if Pakistan secures victories and the USA faces defeats, qualification will likely be determined by Net Run Rate (NRR), necessitating several favourable results. Despite Pakistan's bowlers shining in restricting India to 119, their batting faltered during the chase. Mohammad Rizwan's valiant 31 wasn't enough to seal the win, as the team suffered a late collapse.
India's Bumrah emerged as the hero with his outstanding figures of 4-13, earning him the man of the match accolade. With this defeat, Pakistan's T20 World Cup record against India stands at 7-1, underscoring their challenge in overcoming their rivals in this format.