As India’s unbeaten run culminated in them winning the 2024 ICC T20 World cup, here are a few factors which determined the course of the match in India’s encounters.
1. Ind vs Ireland New York
India opted to bat first after winning the toss and hurt Ireland early. The Irishmen never really got going and their innings folded up for 96. Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah bowled impressively. While Rohit Sharma was hurt and retired after scoring his half century Rishabh Pant batted at No 3 after Virat Kohli got out cheaply. This set the template for matches to follow.
India vs Pakistan, New York
Despite losing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma quite early, Rishabh Pant continued to dominate the Pakistan bowlers. His maverick batting yielded 41 out of 31 balls. While he was criticized for throwing his wicket away, the team management understood the importance of such an innings in a tricky pitch which was not conducive for big hitting. Another masterstroke was promoting Axar Patel to Number 4 and he made an extremely important contribution of 20 runs. While Pakistan believed that they could get 120, Rohit Sharma kept his finger on the pulse of the game throughout and never really looked to take quick wickets but ensured the bowlers never really allowed any Pakistani batsman to really get going.
Immediately after the drinks break, Axar Patel bowling to a settled Usman Khan appealed for leg before which was turned down. Though Axar appeared to suggest it was going down, Rishabh Pant convinced to go for a successful review which brought an impulsive Fakhar Zaman to the crease probably 2 or 3 overs earlier than Pakistan wanted.
Then Jasprit Bumrah took control and did only what he could do and Indians put a brake on the run chase with Hardik Pandya, Siraj and Arshdeep all bowling crucial overs with exemplary control. Axar Patel wrested control by conceding just 2 in the 16th over of the innings and India firmly held on to the match thereafter. Pakistan in hindsight would have wanted Mohammed Rizwan to have steered the ship home and Fakhar Zaman to have controlled his urge in that sort of a pitch.
India vs USA, New York
While SuryaKumar Yadav kept the chase on track, Shivam Dube finding himself among runs was important in hindsight- considering the fact that the next game against Canada was washed out and Indians probably would have tried a different combination then. It is believed that too many changes unless solely based on conditions and pitches would make any good team unsettled in big tournaments.
India vs Afghanistan, Barbados
Hardik Pandya’s flourish at the end of the Indian innings gave them a cushion of 15 extra runs. Afghanistan was put under pressure by Jasprit Bumrah early as they lost both the openers. Their march to the semi finals was largely due to their successful opening stands and their bowling. The Indians managed to dominate throughout while Kuldeep Yadav, who was brought back in place of Siraj finally got match practice which kept him in good stead for the upcoming matches.
India vs Bangladesh, Antigua
Virat Kohli for the first time, played an innings of substance as his knock of 37 gave him some confidence. Hardik Pandya was in full flow as he was regaining his mojo and confidence which proved instrumental in India’s campaign. He batted Bangladesh out of the game with his half century off 27 balls and broke through the Bangladeshi openers' threatening stand in the fifth over after which India never really looked back. Kuldeep was bowling with control and India’s 50 run victory virtually sealed them a semi final spot.
6. India vs Australia, St Lucia
As they were comfortably positioned in the table due to their dominance in the first 2 Super 8 games, India batted with confidence and despite losing Virat Kohli early, Rohit Sharma batted as if he never got out in the 2023 ODI world cup final. His brilliant knock of 92 off 41 balls would have helped to heal a few wounds but it literally shook Australia who had to win the game since they lost to Afghanistan and were on the verge of being knocked out of the competition.
Against the run of play, Axar Patel fielding at the mid wicket boundary plucked the ball out of thin air to dismiss Mitchell Marsh and then Kuldeep weaved his magic around again while Jasprit Bumrah foxed Travis Head who was Australia’s last hope.
7. India vs England, Guyana, Semi- Final
Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube continued to look out of sorts but skipper Rohit and Suryakumar with help from Pandya ensured India finished at 171, a score which seemed like a mountain when England started batting.
Axar Patel bowled with varying pace in the powerplay and the Englishmen could never really read his pace or trajectory. With Kuldeep not allowing any chance of a rebuild, it was India meeting South Africa in the finals.
A couple of moments off the field stood out- Rahul Dravid coming to a distraught Virat Kohli, dropping a few words of encouragement and patting him. Then Rohit Sharma in the presentation ceremony openly backing Virat Kohli to come good in the finals.
8.India vs South Africa, Barbados - The Final
As all Indians now know the scorecard by heart, the fairytale finish would be etched in memories for years to come. Virat Kohli commenced in fine fashion with 3 boundaries in the first over and had to tone down as 3 wickets fell in quick succession. Promoting Axar Patel in a final would have been a risky move but the decision paid off brilliantly allowing India to finish with 176. Kohli was talking to Axar regularly during their partnership and Axar patel’s casual manner in which he got run out gifted South Africa an opportunity to wrest control of the game. Another wicket then would have curbed the instincts of Virat Kohli but with Shivam Dube, he stitched a partnership which soothed nerves but the Indians were found wanting by 10 or 15 runs in the end - perhaps promoting an in-form Hardik could have been a better option but nevertheless, the score was challenging in a final specially with a bowling attack boasting of Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep.
Quinton de Kock tried an encore to find himself meekly falling to the trap at fine leg and Rishabh Pant slowed down the game by calling the physio and then Klassen gave it away. Virat Kohli allowed Keshav Maharaj to cross over for a single off the last ball of the 18th over, a move which South Africa will rue - Miller who had the best chance of finishing off the game for South Africa had to wait for 3 more balls to get back the strike and then he found a clinical Arshdeep difficult to put away.
Hardik in all probability should have bowled one more over between overs 10 and 15 but in the end the tactical brilliance of the skipper and execution of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh and importantly SuryaKumar catching skills gave India a victory to remember for ages.