Feat & Frolic: India's T20 World Cup 2024 win

'What he did in those last five overs...'

Euphoria swept the bustling city of Mumbai as Rohit Sharma and his team got a fitting welcome back home with the shimering World Cup trophy in tow. The open top bus ride through the iconic marine drive was followed by an event at a Wankhede stadium that was packed to the rafters. Emotions were high as was jubilation and acknowledgment of what this Indian team achieved in the last month in USA and the Caribbean.

What was also acknowledged was Jasprit Bumrah's MVP status in this Indian team, with effusive praise from Virat Kohli for what he pulled off in the death overs against South Africa in the final:

"Like everyone in the stadium here, we also felt at one point if it is going to slip away again, but what happened in those last five overs [in the final] was truly, truly special. You know what I'd like everyone to do is applaud a guy who brought us back into games again and again and again in this tournament. What he did in those last five overs... bowling two out of the last five overs, it was phenomenal. A huge round of applause for Jasprit Bumrah, please. We are lucky that he plays for us."

From sneers and jeers to hearty cheers - Hardik Pandya earned his Wankhede redemption last night

Dravid thanks Rohit for persuading him to stay

The ICC Men's T20World Cup 2024 marked the end of Rahul Dravid's tenure as Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. He had taken over the reins from Ravi Shastri in 2021.

However, Dravid was inclined to step down from his position as Head Coach after the defeat to Australia in Ahmedabad in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. Similar to the 2024 T20 World Cup, India went into the final unbeaten in 2023 but stumbled at the final hurdle. In his farewell speech after the victory against South Africa, he thanked Rohit Sharma for convincing him to stay as coach until the T20 World Cup.

"Ro, thank you very much for making that call to me in November and asking me to continue. It has been a privilege to work with everyone of you but to Ro, thanks for the time. I know as captain and coach, there's a lot of times we've to chat, we have to agree and disagree at times and thank you very much."

Not having tasted glory as a player by winning any of the ICC tournaments and after crashing out in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in the group stage, Dravid's time as coach ended on a merry note with the T20 World Cup triumph.

India's afterparty at Hilton

After their stellar comeback triumph against South Africa from a backs-to-the-wall situation in the Twenty20 World Cup final, the Indian team partied hard at the Hilton Hotel in Bridgetown. Organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, the party went on until the early hours of Sunday morning, with players and members of the squad singing, dancing, and indulging in a well-deserved celebration.

Almost all members, including BCCI officials, attended the celebratory event, which Rahul Dravid said marked the culmination of two years of planning, laced with disappointments and heartbreaks. "They deserved to celebrate like that. The World Cup has not come easy, and they gave it their all," said an official.

Finding Indian food in the Caribbean has been a challenge, and the players have been searching for Indian restaurants everywhere. However, in the euphoria of their victory, they weren't concerned about the cuisine being served. Even though it wasn't Indian food, they didn't mind.

Jay Shah announces INR 125 crore prize money for Indian team

BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Sunday (June 30) took to the social media platform X to announce a whopping prize money of INR 125 crore for the Indian team as a token of appreciation for winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma's men emerged victorious in the final by beating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling finish.

Jasprit Bumrah at the World Cup:

Innings: 8 |Runs conceded: 124 |Wickets: 15 | Economy rate: 4.17 |Best bowling figures: 3-7

Retiring on a high:Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have both announced that they will no longer play in the format.

Virat Kohli in T20Is

Rohit Sharma in T20Is

Sachin Tendulkar

Every star added to the Team India jersey inspires our nation's starry-eyed children to move one step closer to their dreams. India gets the 4th star, our second in T20 World Cup. Life comes full circle for Indian cricket in the West Indies. From our lows in the 2007 ODI World Cup to becoming a cricketing powerhouse and winning the T20WC in 2024. Very happy for my friend Rahul Dravid, who missed out on the 2011 World Cup win but his contribution to this T20 World Cup victory has been immense. I am so so happy for him.

MS Dhoni

WORLD CUP CHAMPION My heart rate was up,well done on being calm,having the self belief and doing what u guys did.From all the Indians back home and everywhere in the world a big thank you for bringing the World Cup Home. CONGRATULATIONS.aree thanks for the priceless birthday gift.

2007 -> 2024: The Rahul Dravid redemption arc

How India won the T20 World Cup 2024:

Group stage

June 5, vs Ireland in New York

A winning start on a spicy New York pitch came through the pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah (2-6), Arshdeep Singh (2-35), Mohammed Siraj (1-13) and Hardik Pandya (3-27) as Ireland folded for 96. Rohit Sharma scored 52, and had to retire hurt but the chase was wrapped up in the 13th over.

June 9, vs Pakistan in New York

Jasprit Bumrah's earliest star turn of the tournament came in the blockbuster clash. His ball to remove Mohammad Rizwan - one of his three victims on the night - was the spectacle that turned the tables on Pakistan. India went on to defend their lowest total in T20Is (119).

June 12, vs United States in New York

USA arrived to this game with the highs of having beaten Pakistan a week before, but Arshdeep Singh quickly brought them crashing down with a double-wicket first-over of the game. He went on to finish with figures of 4-9 as the home side was tied down to 110/8. India lost their top three early but Suryakumar Yadav stepped up with an undefeated 51 to see the chase through.

June 15, vs Canada in Florida

India's last group stage game was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Super-8s

June 20, vs Afghanistan in Barbados

Once again India were left a touch queasy by the early departure of the top-three but Suryakumar stepped with a typically fiery 28-ball 53 to push the team to a winning total of 181/8. Bumrah quickly neutralised the threat of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over. His menacing spell of 3 for 7 included a maiden over as he outbowled Rashid Khan in terms of impact, after the Afghan leggie secured 3-26 in the first innings. Arshdeep then wrapped up the tail to bundle out Afghanistan for 134.

June 22, vs Bangladesh in Antigua

It was now Hardik Pandya's turn to create an impact with the bat and consolidate the efforts of the top-order. India rode on fast starts to 196/5 before Kuldeep Yadav spun a web around Bangladesh in a thumping 50-run victory. The wrist spinner dug his teeth into the Bangladesh line-up through the middle-overs to take out Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy and Shakib Al Hasan and derail the chase.

June 24, vs Australia in St. Lucia

The 2021 champions faced the wrath of Rohit, who came out swinging after his team was asked to bat. His 41-ball 92 had 76 runs through just fours and sixes (7x4, 8x6) as India posted 205/5. Travis Head once again wanted to defy India in a big game, only for Bumrah to return at the death to take him out with a viscious cutter. Arshdeep and Kuldeep picked five wickets between them as Australia fell short in the chase.

Semifinal

June 27, vs England in Guyana

India got one back over the defending champions for how this exact fixture panned out in 2022 (England won by 10 wickets). Rohit scored another quick 50 and Suryakumar had a vital 47 while England bowlers' collective effort kept India to 171. In chase however, England were rocked in the PowerPlay by Axar Patel. After the first six overs, Kuldeep Yadav swung into action as England crashed and burned their way to folding for just 103. Between them, they picked six wickets for 42 in 8 overs to bring down the curtains on England's World Cup.

Final

June 29, vs South Africa in Barbados

In the fight of two unbeaten sides, India edged out South Africa in a thrilling final that went down to the very last over. Virat Kohli redeemed himself after a lacklustre campaign with a 59-ball 76 that propelled India to 176 for 7 after a brief collapse at the top. Though Bumrah bowled one of the best balls of the tournament to snuff out Reeza Hendricks, and Aiden Markram fell early too, South Africa were on course in chase on a flat surface that had nothing in it for both Axar and Kuldeep.

Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen were at the wheel, with the latter smashing a 27-ball 52. India seemed dead and buried before the game went into the death overs with South Africa only needing 30 off 30 balls. Hardik Pandya then dismissed Klaasen and set the cat among the pigeons. Just 4 came off that over before Jasprit Bumrah returned for his last, South Africa had to just play him out before turning their attention to the rest of the bowlers but Bumrah cleaned up Marco Jansen to leave South Africa on 156/6. The onus of getting 20 from the last two overs fell on the shoulders of David Miller. A spectacular boundaryline catch by Suryakumar Yadav ended Miller's endeavour and left Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj to chase 16 off the last five. Hardik Pandya then held his nerve to see out that final over to earn a seven-run win and spark wild, cathartic celebrations.