Pakistan’s short, sharp trip across town ended in a seven-wicket defeat, and head coach Mike Hesson did not sugar-coat it.
“We were outplayed today,” Hesson said at the press conference. “I don’t think we can hide from that. We didn’t bat well enough. We left ourselves probably 20 or 30 [runs] short, and we all know through those middle overs we got squeezed. Lots to work on against a good bowling attack, but I was pleased the way the guys fought hard in the field albeit with a score that wasn’t enough.”
Those missing runs never felt close once India’s spinners began turning the screws. Pakistan were 83 for 7 inside 17 overs, only Shaheen Afridi’s late swish hauling them to 127. Even so, the total looked undercooked on a sluggish pitch that still rewarded straight hitting.
“Up until the last few matches, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub had averaged 40 opening the batting, and had done particularly well,” Hesson noted. “Saim is a key player for us, and it’s important for any side that we get off to a good start. Four games ago, we were doing quite nicely at the top; we’ve lost a bit of momentum there, but I certainly have confidence in those two to turn it around quickly.”
The start was anything but settled. Ayub, out first ball last time, sliced his first legal delivery to point. Mohammad Haris tried immediate counter-attack and lasted two balls. Fakhar Zaman almost followed, rescued only by ball-tracking showing Bumrah’s yorker pitching outside leg.
“With the bat, we were a little bit frenzied at the start,” Hesson admitted. “The ball held in the surface, as we expected, but we didn’t respond as well as we would have liked. We were in the game at the end of the powerplay, and then we got squeezed.”
India’s squeeze came mainly from wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, whose 3 for 19 flattened the middle order. Former Pakistan quick Wahab Riaz – observing in a TV role – summed it up neatly: “Kuldeep always one step ahead of batters.” He might have been talking about length, flight, or simply the mood of the match; the effect was plain enough.
Farhan showed flashes, pumping Bumrah for two sixes – no mean feat – yet soaked up 23 dots in his 44-ball 35. Once Kuldeep and Axar Patel settled, gaps closed and Pakistan drifted. Hesson sees that as part of a longer learning curve.
“The more big games you play, the more trust you have in your own game,” he said. “We’ve certainly got some players who’re finding their feet. They want to be in the battle, and we’ll come back stronger in a few days’ time.”
Those few days matter. If other results follow form, Pakistan’s next outing against UAE effectively becomes a knock-out for Super Fours qualification – and, potentially, a rematch with India next Sunday.
“We’ll turn up in three days’ time. We need to play better than we did” was Hesson’s closing line, left hanging slightly but telling enough.
Analysis
India’s control was built on familiar T20 habits: early wickets, middle-over containment, chase managed with minimal fuss. Rohit Sharma used three spinners, a nod to surface and opponent, yet the seamers’ opening burst – Bumrah in particular – created the room to attack later.
Pakistan’s batting slump is harder to pin on one factor. Ayub’s method is designed for tempo, Farhan’s for stability; neither coped once the ball held. There is faith the pair will click again, although faith alone rarely moves the scoreboard.
Bowling remains a bright spot for Hesson. Shaheen and Naseem Shah shared nous and pace, while Shadab Khan’s leg-spin looked tighter than of late. But defending 127 against a deep batting unit was always a long shot.
Perspective
A single defeat does not define a tournament, yet the manner matters. Pakistan did not implode; they were merely corralled, an experience the best sides dish out regularly. Working out how to stall that squeeze, or to counter-punch sooner, will decide whether their campaign lasts another week.
For now, the equation is simple enough: beat UAE, tidy up the top order, keep trusting the bowlers – and hope the next Indian meeting arrives with a little more breathing space on the board.
