Jasprit Bumrah made an unexpected appearance during India’s crucial Women’s T20 World Cup victory against Pakistan on Sunday. The star pacer, fresh off the men’s team's T20 World Cup win in the West Indies earlier this year, was spotted in the crowd, cheering on his compatriots. Broadcast cameras captured the moment, showing Bumrah lending his support during the high-stakes match.
Bumrah, who played a pivotal role in India’s recent Test series triumph over Bangladesh, where he took 11 wickets in two matches, is currently on a break from the ongoing T20 series against Bangladesh. He used this opportunity to travel to Dubai to witness the high-profile women's match.
Midway through India’s chase, Bumrah was interviewed by broadcasters while watching the game, expressing his excitement for the team's performance.
Bumrah's heroics in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup are still fresh in memory, particularly his 15-wicket haul across 8 matches, which helped India secure the title. His remarkable bowling in the final played a crucial role in India's victory, especially when South Africa seemed on the verge of winning.
In the women’s match against Pakistan, India was under pressure after losing their opening match to New Zealand. However, an outstanding bowling effort limited Pakistan to 105-8, with Arundhati Reddy and Shreyanka Patil excelling with the ball.
While India needed a strong run rate to boost their Net Run Rate (NRR), the batters opted for a cautious approach on a tricky wicket. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the chase, ensuring a safe victory with seven balls to spare. India only hit five boundaries during their innings but prioritised securing the win.
India now sits fourth in the table, just behind Pakistan on NRR. As the group stages progress, Australia and New Zealand’s clash could play a pivotal role in shaping the tournament’s outcome. India’s next challenge will be against Sri Lanka, who recently defeated them in the Asia Cup final. They will conclude the group stages with a highly anticipated showdown against Australia.