OTD: Team India defeated South Africa to clinch T20 World Cup 2024 title

Bowlers fired in unison

One of the standout features of India’s triumphant campaign was the Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling line-up, who defended modest totals on challenging pitches in the Caribbean and the USA. India bowled out Ireland for 96 and did not let arch-rivals Pakistan chase a mere 120-run target. In the final, India were in a rough spot, with South Africa needing just 30 in 30, but the pacers choked the Proteas, who managed only 22 off the last five overs.

Hardik on a high

Hardik Pandya, who was trolled following Mumbai Indians’s bottom-placed IPL finish just days before the World Cup, didn’t let it affect him. The all‑rounder averaged 48.00, scoring 144 runs in six innings, while his right-arm medium pace got him 11 wickets. Pandya dismissed half-centurion Heinrich Klaasen and Miller to turn the tide in India’s favour in the final vs SA.

Opener Rohit’s fine starts

Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with his fearless batting in the Powerplay. He was India’s highest run-getter — 257 in eight matches at an average of 36.71, including three half-centuries. Rohit’s best knock was his 92-run blitz in the crunch Super Eight match against Australia. His 41-ball knock (strike-rate of 224.39) powered India to 60-1 in the Powerplay. En route he smashed 29 runs off Mitchell Starc’s second over. Then in the semis against defending champions England, Rohit scored 57 off 39 to take India to 110-2 in 13 overs.

Spin gamble pays off

India almost gambled by picking four spinners in the squad, but the team’s think tank read conditions perfectly. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel were instrumental in halting the flow of runs by striking at key moments. In the Super Eight clash vs Australia, Kuldeep (2-24) dismissed Mitchell Marsh when Australia were cruising at 87-1 in 8.5 overs, chasing 206. He also accounted for Glenn Maxwell, while Axar dismissed Marcus Stoinis, who had scored two half-tons previously. In the semis, Axar and Kuldeep claimed three wickets each against England.

Catching it right

India’s fielders brought unmatched energy in high-pressure games. The highlight of the tournament was Suryakumar Yadav’s boundary-line catch to dismiss SA’s David Miller in the final. With 16 needed off six, Suryakumar leapt near the boundary at long-off, tossed the ball up, stepped outside and re-entered to complete a stunner. Other moments include Axar’s one-handed grab just within the boundary line to dismiss Australia’s Marsh and Mohd Siraj’s jumping catch on the boundary to dismiss USA’s Nitish Kumar.

This article first appeared on Mid Day