Bapu Axar and Bumrah: Two Gujaratis rewrite history at Wankhede
India Today
T20 World Cup: India's 253 lit up the T20 World Cup semi-final. Axar Patel's gravity-defying catches and Jasprit Bumrah's death-over mastery crushed England's chase. It was yesterday once more.
Two Gujaratis, one of them Bapu, versus the British. The world knows how the story ends. But it gets renewed every few years. These days, on the cricket field. So it has to be told afresh.
Thursday, March 5, 2026. It is the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup at the Wankhede. Batting first, India have scored 253 against England. Nobody has ever chased more than 200 in a T20 World Cup. India seem destined to win.
IND vs ENG T20 WORLD CUP 2026: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
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But the wicket is flat. The curator stripped it off grass and rolled it lightly before the toss. No swing. No spin. No dew. All you have to do is line up the ball and go bang-bang. And England are off to a flyer: 1 down for 37.
Then the dice is rolled. India start with Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep. Jasprit Bumrah comes on for the first time – the first ball of the fifth over. Betthel's knock was one for the generations to come. (PTI Photo)
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