Pakistan’s rising star Usman Tariq couldn’t hide his excitement after bowling against India in a pulsating T20 World Cup encounter in Colombo. The off-spinner’s figures of 1/24 underscored his potential, grabbing attention with smart bowling on a gripping pitch.
India’s innings revolved around Ishan Kishan’s fiery 77 from 40 balls, pushing them to 175/7. Pakistan’s spin attack ruled the roost, delivering 18 overs and restricting flow, led by Sam Ayub’s impressive 3/25.
What set Tariq apart was his tactical nous – lingering pauses, varied release angles, and deceptive variations that peaked in the middle overs. Post-innings, he gushed to broadcasters, ‘India vs Pakistan is the biggest stage. The vibe was unreal – like living a dream.’
The slow surface posed no issues, drawing from his Caribbean Premier League know-how. ‘CPL gave me the edge on such pitches,’ Tariq noted. ‘Kept their bat speed down, and yeah, we’re in control.’
Tariq placed full faith in Pakistan’s chasers: ‘Batters are in top form with aggressive mindset. Our clarity is paying off – we’ll get those runs.’
India commands Group A with back-to-back routs of USA and Namibia, hungry for a third straight win into Super 8s. Pakistan lurks in third with two victories, making this win pivotal. The India-Pakistan saga promises more drama.