Year-Ender 2024: A look back at Team India's journey to lifting the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 after an 13-year gap
2024 was a roller-coaster year for Indian cricket, especially in T20Is. It was a year marked by triumph, transition, and the bittersweet farewell of some of the game’s most iconic players. But above all, it was the year when the monkey was finally lifted off India’s back. A 13-year-long wait for an ICC World title came to a triumphant end as Rohit Sharma’s men lifted the T20 World Cup in a thrilling finale against South Africa. The victory not only brought joy to millions of cricket lovers across the globe but also marked the end of several droughts, including a 17-year-long T20 World Cup hiatus.
In the years since India’s last ICC World Cup triumph in 2011 under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the nation has endured near misses, heartbreaks, and some highly disappointing campaigns. The wait for an ICC title, having stretched to over a decade, seemed like an interminable test of patience. While India tasted some success in the Champions Trophy and various bilateral series, the elusive title in T20 cricket had remained just out of reach, despite multiple attempts.
Read More: T20 World Cup 2024, Final, IND vs SA: India end 13-year WC drought; lift second World T20 title
Team India road to glory
India’s campaign in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, hosted in the USA and the Caribbean, was nothing short of spectacular. The journey began with a commanding eight-wicket win over Ireland in New York, where the India bowlers sent Ireland packing for just 96 runs. The highlight of the game was Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant spell, taking 2 wickets for just 6 runs in 3 overs, and Hardik Pandya’s three-wicket haul.
The 8-wicket victory was followed by another tight win over arch-rivals Pakistan. With Pakistan at 57 for 1 in 10 overs, India’s bowlers staged a remarkable comeback, restricting their rivals to 113/7 and winning by just six runs. Bumrah’s player-of-the-match performance once again stole the show.
The group-stage matches continued to be a one-way affair. India defeated the hosts, USA, with a dominant performance before securing a comfortable win against Canada, albeit the match had to be abandoned due to rain. By then, India had amassed seven points and topped Group A, ensuring their progression to the Super 8 stage.
The Super 8 stage saw India continue their unbeaten streak, starting with a 47-run win over Afghanistan. Team India posted a competitive total of 181, with Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive 53 runs setting the tone. Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh took three wickets each to bowl Afghanistan out for 134. Then came another masterclass with the bat against Bangladesh, where Hardik Pandya’s quick-fire 50 from just 27 balls helped India post a daunting total of 196. Bangladesh, unable to chase, could only manage 146/8.
The final Super 8 match against defending champions Australia turned out to be one of India’s best performances. Rohit Sharma’s sublime 92 off 41 balls guided India to a total of 205/5. Australia, chasing 206, could only muster 181, and India clinched a 24-run victory. This victory also knocked Australia out of the tournament and sent India into the semi-finals with an air of invincibility.
Read More: T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma conjured magic, sometimes with bat & sometimes with captaincy
Thrilling semi-final and final
The semi-final against England was a nail-biter, but India continued their dominance. Rohit Sharma’s brilliant 57 helped India post a challenging 171/7. Despite a valiant effort from England’s batters, they were bowled out for just 103 in 16.4 overs. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were the stars with the ball, taking three wickets each, as India triumphed by 68 runs to secure a spot in their first T20 World Cup final in a decade.
The final at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, was a dramatic affair. South Africa, gunning for their maiden T20 World Cup title, faced a tough challenge in chasing down India’s total of 176/7. Despite some fiery resistance from their middle order, South Africa fell short by 7 runs, finishing at 169/8. Virat Kohli’s 76 off 59 balls was the highlight of India’s innings, and he was duly named Player of the Match for his performance. Jasprit Bumrah, with 15 wickets in 8 matches, was named Player of the Series, while India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament.
With this victory, India ended an 11-year drought for an ICC title, a 13-year wait for a World Cup, and a 17-year-long absence from the T20 World Cup throne. Rohit Sharma became the second India captain, after MS Dhoni, to lift the ICC T20 World Cup, cementing his legacy in Indian cricket.
Homecoming and grand celebration
The celebrations were nothing short of extraordinary. Team India, after landing back in Mumbai, were greeted by an overwhelming reception at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport. The Mumbai Fire Brigade gave them a ceremonial water salute, a fitting tribute to their remarkable achievement. The team was then paraded through the streets of Mumbai, which were thronged with excited fans who waited over a decade for this moment.
Marine Drive, the iconic stretch along Mumbai’s coastline, and the Wankhede Stadium were packed with jubilant supporters, waving flags, holding placards, and sporting India jerseys. The streets buzzed with excitement, even amidst the heavy rain and traffic congestion. It was a scene of pure joy, a city and a nation united in celebration. The highlight of the festivities was the victory parade, where the team, aboard a double-decker bus, proudly displayed the T20 World Cup trophy. The players waved and interacted with the crowd, basking in the adoration of their fans.
For some of the stalwarts—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja—this was their final T20 World Cup. It marked the end of an era, one defined by their exceptional contributions to Indian cricket. These players had been central to India’s T20 success over the years, and their retirement symbolised the end of a golden phase in Indian cricket.
Equally emotional was the farewell of their coach, Rahul Dravid. The former India captain had steered the team through turbulent times and helped them navigate transitions in player dynamics and leadership. His emotional reaction mirrored that of the millions of fans who had supported the team through thick and thin. Dravid’s tenure had been one of stability, and his farewell after this triumph added a layer of poignancy to the celebrations.
The T20 World Cup triumph of 2024 will be remembered not just for the trophy but for the emotions, the celebrations, and the new beginning it heralded for Indian cricket. The monkey was finally off India’s back, and it was a glorious, joyous moment in India’s sporting history.
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