"One of the rare occasions where the white ball was reversing" - Jasprit Bumrah on his match-winning spell in IND vs PAK 2023 ODI World Cup clash 

Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged Player of the Match for his brilliant spell in the first innings against Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday. He claimed two wickets while conceding only 19 runs off his seven overs.

The right-arm fast bowler accounted for the wickets of Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan in the middle overs when Pakistan collapsed to a below-par total (191) from a relatively comfortable position. Bumrah was solid with the new ball, conceding only five runs off his first three overs, but was not among the wickets.

He outfoxed Rizwan with a perfectly executed off-cutter which gripped off the surface to find the top of off stump. Bumrah also ousted Shadab to find the top of the off stump yet again to claim his second wicket.

Revealing that he was inspired to bowl cutters after witnessing Ravindra Jadeja get some grip off the surface while bowling, Bumrah said during the post-match presentation:

"We were bowling in the middle and I saw Jaddu's ball turned a little bit. I count my slower ball as a spinner's slower ball as well so I felt it could be a useful option. I tried to use that and it gripped - one of those days. There was a little phase where there was reverse swing."

Clarifying that the delivery to dismiss Shadab was not a leg-cutter, and was instead a rare instance of the white-ball reversing, he said:

"It was not a leg-cutter (to dismiss Shadab) - it was the outswinger I was looking to bowl. One of the rare occasions where the white ball was reversing."

It was a united effort by the Indian bowlers that saw Pakistan lose their way from 155-2 in the middle overs. Every bowler barring Shardul Thakur claimed two wickets apiece, which arguably laid the foundation for the dominant seven-wicket win in the end.

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"We recognized the wicket was on the slower side so we wanted to bowl those hard lengths to make it difficult" - Jasprit Bumrah

Rohit Sharma had won the toss for the first time in the 2023 ODI World Cup and opted to bowl first. There was not much movement on offer with the new ball, and Pakistan capitalized on that by scoring a flurry of boundaries in the initial overs.

Jasprit Bumrah emphasized adapting quickly to the surface and bowling accordingly.

"Usually you try to analyze the wicket as soon as possible. We recognized the wicket was on the slower side so we wanted to bowl those hard lengths to make it difficult. We then felt it would reverse a little with the old ball," he said.

Team India chased down the target in just 30.3 to claim the top spot in the points table by virtue of net run rate. The Men in Blue are undefeated in the tournament after notching three wins in succession.