By Rakesh Pandey
Now this is what I call a demolition. Winning a T20 world cup final by 96 runs speaks the damage the Indian team did to the Kiwis. And while doing so they registered their biggest win in a World Cup match to defend their title.
The win also marked many achievements for the Champion team, the first to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title, winning three T20 world cups and also becoming the first nation to win a T20 world cup at home.
It was just another fairytale for the host nation. Just imagine the pressure you go through as an Indian team going for a World Cup as you are always considered the pre favourites to win the cup. Playing at home makes every move scrutinised, and then two pivots. One before the World Cup where you replace Shubman Gill with Sanju Samson and at the start of the tournament you see Ishan Kishan’s form, and sideline Samson again. Then in the middle of the tournament, you pivot again to bring back Samson and break the three left-hand batters at the top. And guess what, everything worked out as per strategy. Samson, who played in just the last five matches for India, amassed 321 runs to win the player of the tournament award. He scored his runs at an average of 80.25, with a whopping strike rate of 199.37 including 27 fours and 24 humongous sixes. India did exceedingly well under extreme pressure to win this tournament.
It was a sea of blue at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where India – the hosts and pre-tournament favourites – delivered their third T20 World Cup title, and second in a row. Aggressive half centuries from openers Abhishek and Samson along with Kishan and Dube’s biggies in the final over helped the defending champions to amass 255 before Bumrah’s four-for helped set up a massive 96-run victory.
Bumrah, who took 14 wickets (highest in the tournament) got the man of the match award for his spell of 4 for 15 in four overs.
India now hold the T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. Next year will be their chance to put a final stamp on authority to go from being GOAT T20 team to GOAT white-ball team.
Well done TEAM INDIA……….. You truly deserve it.
Note: Rakesh Pandey is a senior sports journalist and former Editor of Cricket Today.
