Kuwait Stun India with a Big Win in the Hong Kong Sixes: India were making headlines after crushing Pakistan in their Pool C match at the Hong Kong Sixes, but things took a sharp turn as they suffered a major blow with a surprising defeat to Kuwait. The Dinesh Karthik-led side went down by 27 runs, a result that shook up their campaign in the tournament.
India are competing in the Hong Kong Sixes with Dinesh Karthik as captain this time. The squad also includes Stuart Binny, Abhimanyu Mithun, and Robin Uthappa, who have all returned to the lineup for this exciting format.
Interestingly, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was supposed to feature in the team but had to withdraw due to an injury just before the tournament began. His spot was filled by batter Robin Uthappa.
Hong Kong Sixes: Extraordinary Kuwait Pull Off a Historic Win
The Pool C clash between India and Kuwait turned into quite an unexpected thriller, with Kuwait pulling off a historic win. Batting first, Kuwait posted a strong total of 107 for 5 in their 6 overs. India, in reply, could manage only 79 runs before losing all 6 wickets, falling short by 27 runs.
Kuwait earned praise for their fearless approach and smart tactics. Their batting was led by some fine performances, particularly from Yasin Patel, who became the star of the match. The short format, known for explosive hitting, saw Kuwait combine clever running between the wickets with some powerful shots to keep the Indian bowlers under constant pressure.
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Yasin Patel’s Last-Over Fireworks Seal the Game
Kuwait all-rounder Yasin Patel delivered a career-defining performance that will go down in Kuwait cricket history. It was largely thanks to his stunning display with both bat and ball that Kuwait managed to beat India for the very first time.
At one stage, Kuwait looked set to end around 80 runs, but Patel had other plans. Coming in towards the end, he smashed 5 sixes in the final over, taking his team from 76 to 106. Those 27 runs proved to be the difference between the two sides. Patel was rightly named Player of the Match for his incredible effort.
Adnan Idrees and Yasin Patel Shine with the Ball
After setting a solid total, Kuwait backed it up with a disciplined bowling effort. India’s chase got off to a rough start when opener Robin Uthappa was dismissed for a golden duck. Captain Dinesh Karthik and all-rounder Stuart Binny couldn’t make much of an impact either, leaving India in deep trouble early on.
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Abhimanyu Mithun offered a brief moment of hope for India, smashing three sixes in the final over. But with 26 still needed off the last three balls, it was too tall an order. Adnan Idrees kept his cool and got Mithun out for 26 off 9 balls.
Yasin Patel was impressive with the ball too, taking 3 wickets in his two overs and playing a crucial role in sealing Kuwait’s win.
India’s Tough Run Continues
The loss to Kuwait was just the start of India’s struggles in the tournament. Following that match, they went on to lose to the UAE by 4 wickets and suffered another heavy defeat against Nepal, going down by a huge 92 runs.
It’s been a rough patch for the Dinesh Karthik-led side, but Kuwait’s historic victory will surely be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments of the Hong Kong Sixes.
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