T20 World Cup 2024 Anniversary: Top four moments that secured Team India’s victory
Winning the T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa in the final at the Kensington Oval took the monkey off India’s back. Since earning the title in the Champions Trophy 2013, they have reached multiple semifinals and finals of various events. But they failed to provide the final punch until that evening on June 29, 2024.
With 26 needing off 24 deliveries in the presence of David Miller and Heinrich Klassen in the middle, the game was nearly slipping through the blue brigade’s hands. But Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah’s fabulous overs, along with India’s fantastic fielding, brought the trophy into Rohit Sharma’s hands.
The Nagpur-born finished the season as the side’s leading run-getter of the tournament. He smashed 257 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 156.70, celebrating three half-centuries. Arshdeep was India’s highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps, while Bumrah continued a magical economy rate of 4.17 to bag 15 wickets.
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Let’s take a look at a few key moments that brought glory to the Men in Blue:
Rohit Sharma’s vital half-centuries against Australia and England
Amidst the wounds of the ODI World Cup 2023 defeat seven months ago, India got ready to face Australia in St Lucia. For the entire event, the openers aimed to provide an aggressive start to the side inside the first six overs. Rohit Sharma took the onus into his hands against Pat Cummins’ army.
He nailed Mitchell Starc for four sixes in the third over to send a strong message. Rohit also took on Adam Zampa’s leg spin over the mid-wicket region and ended with 92 runs in 41 balls. His knock helped India to go beyond 200 on the board and earn a 24-run victory against Australia.
The Mumbai batter continued his dominance even during the semifinal against England. On a dry surface in Guyana, he was fluent with the big shots around the park. Whenever they were under pressure with a few dot balls, the veteran played a few innovative shots to bail them out of trouble.
He clubbed 57 runs in 39 balls at a strike rate of 146.15, thanks to six boundaries and two sixes.
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Axar Patel and Virat Kohli’s 72-run partnership in the final
Expecting the surface to slow down under the heat, Rohit decided to bat first in Barbados. But at 34/3 in the fifth over, the 2007 T20 champions were in a spot of bother. Axar Patel, promoted to number five, joined Virat Kohli, who looked scratchy at the start.
Axar broke the shackles with a couple of sixes against the Proteas’ spinners to shift the pressure. Kohli, on the other hand, kept ticking the scorecard with singles and doubles. After the Southpaw’s dismissal on 47, the former India captain took charge.
The Delhi-born cleared his front leg to slog Kagiso Rabada for a six over long-on. He followed it with a boundary to finish with 76 runs in 59 balls to shoulder them to 176.
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India’s pacers held their nerve in the final defence
With an equation requiring 26 runs off 24 deliveries, the Rainbow Nation was well ahead in the chase. But they lost Klassen at the wrong time. Rishabh Pant later spoke about faking an injury to break South Africa’s momentum just before the start of the 16th over.
Arshdeep was excellent with the change of pace at an excellent line and length. The left-arm pacer increased more pressure on the opponents alongside Bumrah, who used his smartness to fox the batters.
Meanwhile, the most special moment for the fans came in the last over. Suryakumar Yadav held his nerve and grabbed a miracle catch to dismiss David Miller. Once the veteran went back to the pavilion, it was just a matter of time. But Hardik Pandya used the slow surface brilliantly to create pressure. The three pacers returned with combined figures of 7/58 in 11 overs in the final.
India’s combined force blew away Pakistan
At the Nassau County International Stadium in New York, Pakistan folded India for 119 runs. In any situation, any team would hope for a victory. But India made it tough with their incredible bowling and hostile fielding. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Babar Azam and kept the run rate in check.
The Green Brigade never tried to play the big shots and kept losing wickets regularly. The pressure got the better of them as they ended with 113/7 in 20 overs and fell short of the target by six runs.
At the end of the competition, Rohit, Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from the shortest format for India. For this country, winning the title wasn’t just a feeling. It was an emotion. It was the result of millions’ prayers for success.
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