New Delhi: Team India’s rampant run in the T20 World Cup 2024 paid off as they lifted the coveted ICC trophy, edging past South Africa by seven runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday. There was fear among the fans as the Men in Blue were replicating what they did in the ODI World Cup 2023, being on an unbeaten run throughout the tournament but faltering at the all-important stage.
The Rohit Sharma-led side however turned fortunes this time as they nearly survived the scare given by the Proteas, well with their dominance that arrived in the form of their lethal pace attack during the final moments of the game. South Africa were cruising in the 177-run chase and it all looked like a piece of cake for them but the crucial blows by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah turned the game in India’s favor, bagging a thrilling victory.
Too much of history was reminisced as India clinched an ICC silverware after 11 long years. It was also their second T20 World Cup triumph which came after a long wait of 17 years and their fourth overall World Cup which arrived after 13 years. With this, India have clearly taken off the chokers’ tag and have put the knockout jinx to an end.
This was notably the first major instance of India being given a tough fight as what the preceding games showcased by sheer dominance by the Men in Blue. They were clearly the best team to win the prestigious trophy and thoroughly deserved every bit of it due to their continuous outclassing of the opponent. The team had already arrived as the favourites and fulfilled the expectations of billions of Indian fans across the world.
India’s road to second T20 World Cup glory
Rohit Sharma-led India faced Bangladesh in a warm-up clash to prepare for the group stage games and beat the neighbours by 60 runs to give the world a demo of their gameplay. They started their campaign against Ireland and bagged a comfortable eight-wicket win that was headlined by Jasprit Bumrah for his returns of 3-1-6-2. Rohit had hit a half-century during the below-par run-chase of 97 runs.
They next faced arch-rivals Pakistan in a highly-anticipated clash in New York and pulled off a nervy win, defending 119 runs and winning the game by a narrow margin of six runs. Bumrah headlined the clash yet again for his returns of 4-0-14-3 and garnered huge praise across the world for his tremendous skills. India next beat the USA by seven wickets as Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube helmed the chase of 111 runs on a tricky New York pitch. Arshdeep Singh was adjudged the Player of the Match for his magical spell of 4-0-9-4.
With three successive wins, India’s next clash against Canada was washed out due to persistent rain in Florida. The tournament then shifted its base to the West Indies for the Super Eights where India first faced Afghanistan and handed them a 47-run defeat. Suryakumar Yadav was the top-scorer as he smashed a half-century. Rohit and Co. then took on Bangladesh and registered a clinical 50-run win with Hardik Pandya taking the spotlight with his unbeaten half-century.
India were up against Australia as they sought revenge for the ODI World Cup 2023 final and turned out to be the winners with a 24-run margin. Rohit struck a brilliant 92 runs to headline the clash and ended the Super Eights on a high. They next faced England in the second semi-final of the tournament and outclassed them by 68 runs with Axar Patel taking centre stage for his 4-0-23-3. With seven successive wins in their kitty, India strode in the marquee final against South Africa and pulled off a nail-biting win by seven runs with the likes of Virat Kohli, Bumrah, Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav all playing their part to add a new feather in the elite history of Indian cricket.
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After being on a stellar and unbeaten run of seven wins on the trot, India bagged their second T20 World Cup on Saturday beating South Africa in the final and made a clean streak of eight wins on the bounce. Here’s how Team India fared in the T20 World Cup 2024. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
