Case in point – first delivery of the 17th over, of Saturday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final match between India and South Africa.
What does the scoreboard say?
Heinrich Klaasen – caught Rishabh Pant – bowled Hardik Pandya.
Hardik STRIKES! 🙌🏻
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 29, 2024
The dangerous #HeinrichKlaasen is caught as #TeamIndia makes a comeback in this crunch FINAL! 👊🏻#T20WorldCupFinal | #INDvsSA | LIVE NOW pic.twitter.com/1iVx8NBREp
Perhaps, the scoreboard would have mentioned:
Heinrich Klaasen – caught Rishabh Pant – bowled Hardik Pandya – assisted by Jasprit Bumrah.
Let’s Rewind – Before 16.1, There Was 1.3
Before 16.1, we had 1.3.
The third delivery of the second over of South Africa’s innings. Bumrah pitches it between middle and off, extracts zip off the surface, the ball angles away from Reeza Hendricks, and hits the top of off-stump.
If this dismissal evoked déjà vu, you’re not alone. For, it was a sight we had seen before.
SIMPLY UNPLAYABLE BY BUMRAH! 🤩🎳#JaspritBumrah cleans up #ReezaHendricks with a superb delivery and 🇮🇳 start on a brilliant note! 🙌🏻#T20WorldCupFinal | #INDvsSA | LIVE NOW pic.twitter.com/RJyerWvjuP
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 29, 2024
Bumrah took an early wicket with a similar delivery against Martin Guptill in India’s 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, and again in the perform-or-perish 2021 T20 World Cup match against the same opponent and batter. Or, if you want to rewind the clock further, how about the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final against the West Indies, where a precise yorker uprooted Chris Gayle’s stumps?
Barring Bumrah’s early breakthroughs, what unites these three matches?
The outcome. India ended up on the losing side, every time.
Would it be the same on Saturday?
