Batters win you the game, but bowlers bring you the tournament.” This phrase suits the situation well when the bowlers take the strike, scalp the wickets, and help the team to defend the totals. On Sunday, when hopes were down and the possibilities were the lowest, Indian bowlers clinched an impossible win at the Nassau Cricket Stadium.
Despite India’s disappointing batting performance, recording their lowest total against Pakistan, the bowlers saved the day with their excellent bowling, successfully defending the low total.
When your team makes the lowest total, the bowlers’ job becomes even more important. The Indian cricket team also has some amazing bowlers who have consistently helped the team defend the lowest totals. Take a look at five times when the Indian cricket team has defended the lowest totals in T20Is
T20I lowest total defended by India
| Against | Scores | Year | Venue |
| Pakistan | 119 | 2024 | New York |
| Bangladesh | 146/7 | 2016 | Bengaluru |
| South Africa | 152/6 | 2012 | Colombo |
| South Africa | 153/5 | 2007 | Durban |
| Sri Lanka | 155/3 | 2012 | Pallekele |
| Pakistan | 157/5 | 2007 | Johannesburg |
India 7-1 record vs Pak in T20 World Cup
For the first two-thirds of the game, Pakistan seemed to be winning, needing just 40 runs in 36 overs. However, the final result was 7-1, with India extending their head-to-head record against Pakistan from 6-1 to 7-1. This was the lowest total defended by the ‘Men in Blue’ in the tournament.
Indian bowlers destroyed the opposition!
Previously, in 2016, during the T20 World Cup held in India, India defended the lowest total of 146 against Bangladesh under the leadership of MS Dhoni in Bengaluru. Speaking more about the game, it was nothing but a thriller as the game went to the last over. It’s fair to say it was Bangladesh’s premature celebration that took the game away from them. On the other hand, against South Africa in the T20 World Cup, which happened in Colombo in 2012, Indian bowlers did wonders and clinched the game in a nail-biting thriller.
Thrilling wins against arch-rivals
Apart from these games, the best and most memorable game for India came against arch-rivals Pakistan in the inaugural T20 World Cup, which India won. The win against Pakistan occurred when India defended the score of 157 runs in the final, in yet another nail-biting encounter which went in India’s favor.
