Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes past Hardik Pandya to secure incredible record

Bhuvneshwar troubled Pakistan with his bowling (PC: Twitter)

The much awaited India vs Pakistan match at the Asia Cup 2022 is currently underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first. The Indian bowlers did a good job to bowl out the opposition for 147 runs, and the pick of the bowlers was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished with figures of 4 for 26.

Bhuvneshwar gave India their first breakthrough by removing the in-form Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, before dismissing Asif Ali, and Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah in consecutive deliveries. Kumar’s bowling figure of 4 for 26 is now the best figure recorded by an Indian bowler in a T20I match against Pakistan. Until today, Hardik Pandya held the record for the best T20I bowling figures against the Men in Green. Pandya, at the 2016 Asia Cup game in Mirpur, picked three wickets for just eight runs. 

“When we looked at the wicket, we thought it would swing but there was no swing. There was bounce, but we know what balls we have to bowl. When you bowl short, few were skidding and some were coming slow. To be honest, we gave 10-15 runs extra. New ball is always tricky on this wicket. There could be bounce for their bowlers too, but I'm backing our batters to chase this down,” Bhuvneshwar said after India's innings.

India, who lost their 2021 T20I World Cup game to Pakistan comprehensively, now stand a good chance to make amends for it, having bowled out Pakistan for a total below 150 runs. Before the on-going game, India and Pakistan have met nine times in the game’s shortest format, of which seven games have been won by India. 

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