Rohit Sharma's Leadership and Jasprit Bumrah's Understanding of the Ahmedabad Surface Help India Defeat Pakistan

India's appalling results at ICC events over the past few years have often included a failure to read cues on the field.

Until Travis Head hit a century in the World Test Championship final at The Oval, India was unable to take advantage of his vulnerability to short-pitched pitches. When Abdullah Shafique was batting on Saturday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, a same error nearly happened.

The Indians never put the opener to the test from that short of a length until Jasprit Bumrah hit one in the seventh over. Instead, they let him play freely. Mohammed Siraj seized the chance as soon as the warning signs were raised.

Siraj repeatedly brought up the ruse to make Rohit Sharma uncomfortable with the brevity of his delivery. After one that didn't rise as high as anticipated, Rohit told the fine leg fielder to take a squarer stance.

When Siraj delivered a wider length delivery that maintained a bit low and caught the batter inside the crease, Shafique was forced to the back foot, expecting another snorter.

You need to check to see if the new ball is swinging or not. It's such a large format that you can pitch it up at the beginning and be hit for a couple boundaries. Then you realize which line is more effective on this wicket," Siraj remarked following the game.

"Thereafter, we continue to attack such regions. I had discussed Abdullah Shafique's wicket with Rohitbhai, so it was all planned. He had been stuck in the thick of a bouncer I had previously bowled to him. Next, I spent some time talking to Rohitbhai and hanging out with him. Shafique believed that I was going to bowl a bouncer once more. He was defending, so I pitched the ball up (a little bit farther) and made a successful play."

One of the delights of India's success in this World Cup so far has been Rohit's ability to organize resources and shift the tide of a match.

An further alteration in the field also contributed to Imam-ul Haq's dismissal. Having hit Hardik Pandya to the deep point boundary, the opener appeared to be getting loose. A fielder was promptly moved by Rohit to that area, creating some room in front of the wicket. Imam delivered a longer delivery and nicked it behind the stumps.

Following the dismissal of Babar Azam, Pakistan collapsed from 155/2 to 191 all out, unleashing a torrent of consequences. Since Babar had been taking advantage of the spinners, Rohit made the decision to bring Siraj in for a second stint.

Pandya was caught by Babar's third ball at short midwicket after he mishandled it. The next over saw Babar reach his half-century off a full toss from Kuldeep Yadav, and it appeared that Rohit had made a mistake by bringing back Siraj. However, the game's dynamics were altered by a cross-seam delivery that skidded and struck the top of the off stump.

"I assumed there could be little bounce with cross-seam, but occasionally there's also extra bounce. It succeeded. You witnessed the outcome "said Siraj.

The BCCI brass gave Rohit the explicit directive to retrieve an ICC trophy when Virat Kohli handed over the baton in November 2021.

Rohit needed some time to adjust to his new position after realizing that managing an IPL club differed from guiding the Indian team in terms of challenges.

However, Rohit has never hesitated to reevaluate circumstances. He enjoys seizing the important moments and making arrangements for them.

Thanks to Rohit, who has finally instilled the deadly instinct that this squad lacked despite their regular success in bilateral series, India now seem unbeatable.

The secret of Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah, who played a lot of games at the venue during his junior career, was able to read the Ahmedabad surface effectively during the Pakistan encounter on Saturday.

"This field has seen me play a lot of junior cricket. I wanted to use my experience here because it was a flat track," Bumrah said to BCCI.tv. "Before getting hit for four boundaries, it's vital to realise about the wicket right after one boundary," he stated.

His IPL bowling on flat surfaces experience was also helpful.

Ramiz refers to it as "pasting."

New Delhi: Babar Azam's Pakistan has come under fire from former captain Ramiz Raja for their lackluster performance against India.

It will cause them pain. They've been outmatched and outscored in all three categories, and it's hurting, pounding, and battering them, Raja said on the ICC Review Podcast.

"Come in if you can't win. At least try." Pakistan was unable to accomplish that, he claimed.

"It's a reality and Pakistan have got to do something about it," Raja remarked in reference to Pakistan's eighth consecutive World Cup defeat to India.