Part 4 - How did India win the 2024 T20 World Cup

Stats of the 2024 World Cup

Our original point was the necessity of frequent run-scorers. Of the Top 21 run-scorers this World Cup, India had 5 of them. This meant that within the Indian batting lineup, there was almost a certain guarantee that at least a few batsmen would click each match. For example, in the IND vs. AFG match, no other batsmen passed 20 runs except for Suryakumar Yadav (53 runs), Hardik Pandya (32 runs), and Virat Kohli (24 runs). Efforts like these throughout the lineup helped India get to a winning total of 181. Similarly, against Pakistan, no batsmen made 20+ runs except for Axar Patel (20 runs) and Rishabh Pant (42 runs); these efforts were critical for India to scrape their way to 119 runs, which also ended up being a winning total. Furthermore, in the IND vs. AUS match, 4 batsmen made more than 25 runs: Rohit Sharma (92 runs), Suryakumar Yadav (31 runs), Shivam Dube (28 runs), and Hardik Pandya (27 runs). The key factor concerning all these matches is that even though none of the batsmen was the star in every match, they always performed in some of them. For example, Rishabh Pant made 42 vs. Pakistan but only managed 15 vs. Australia, while Rohit Sharma got out for 13 runs vs. Pakistan but smashed 92 runs vs. Australia. Each match featured at least 2-4 batsmen getting the job done. And of course, with the bowlers ripping through opponent lineups each game, India became a much more consistent and formidable side throughout the tournament. 

What about the bowling?

As I mentioned before, the bowling was simply fantastic by basically every team in this tournament. Conditions definitely had their part to play in it, but that shouldn’t take away from how good the bowlers were. One incredible stat that may show just how amazing bowling was this WC is through Lockie Ferguson, a New Zealand bowler. He was in fact the first bowler in the history of the T20 WC to not give a single run in all 24 deliveries he bowled. In short, bowling was utterly breathtaking.

This is not to say that bowling didn’t make a difference, and that it was only batting. Almost anyone could agree that in the final, when South Africa needed 27 runs from 28 balls with 6 wickets in hand and a rampant Heinrich Klaasen, India seemed done and dusted. However, the unplayable bowling of Jasprit Bumrah, daring deliveries by Hardik Pandya, and accuracy of Arshdeep Singh left South Africa in a chokehold. They were unable to break free, and fell short by 7 runs.

Nonetheless, the batting effort was outstanding; Kohli had played a well-calculated 76 run knock, Axar Patel invigorated the Indian spirits with his free-flowing 47, Shivam Dube entertained viewers with his sprightly 27, and I could go on and on. 

But more importantly, this final featured something unseen in past T20 World Cups like 2016: all-round contributions. Every batsman this World Cup played brilliantly when their team needed them the most, and every bowler was extraordinary in keeping the opponents away from victory. This World Cup won’t be remembered for one-man shows or failures at the final hurdle; it’ll be remembered for the unity between the teammates, the reliability of each player, and, of course, the end to India’s 11-year trophy drought.