From A Special Correspondent
India created history as the first host nation to clinch the title since the Twenty-20 World Cup was launched in 2007, outplaying New Zealand by 96 runs in the final to retain the trophy they had carried home from the West Indies two years ago.
Before Sunday’s title-encounter in Ahmedabad, host nations had repeatedly failed to win the T-20 World Cup, albeit six nations had inscribed their names on the trophy in its previous nine editions. In the two-decade history of the T-20 World Cups, the hosts had such a bad run that only Sri Lanka managed to feature in a final of a tournament being played on their soil – and they lost that final to the West Indies in 2012.
Tipped as the pre-tournament favourites, India came through a nervy start against rank outsiders USA and a humiliating drubbing at the hands of South Africa in the Super Eight round before their batsmen produced stirring performances to annex the title – and now their eyes are set on the gold medal at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles Olympics, where the sport makes a return to the Olympic programme after 128 years.
The only previous Olympic Games to feature cricket were staged at Paris in 1900, when it was two-team competition. In 2028, at Los Angeles the Twenty-20 version of cricket will be played between six teams for both men and women.
Creating a new benchmark, India became the first-ever team to win the World T-20 title three times – after emerging champions in the inaugural event in 2007 and then in 2024 – going one ahead of England and the West Indies, who both have emerged triumphant twice.
Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have one title against their names. After prevailing over South Africa in the final in 2024, this time India dashed New Zealand’s aspirations.
India’s biggest threat came in the form of South Africa, whose hopes of featuring in the second successive title encounter were cut short by an audacious batting display by New Zealand in the semi-final that the Black Caps comfortably won by nine wickets with 7.1 overs to spare.
On the other hand, India came through a stiffer semi-final contest against England which they won by seven runs – conceding three sixes of the last three balls after victory was assured when England needed 25 runs from three balls.
