"First T20 World Cup for us win since the inception of the IPL" - Indian cricket fraternity hails Team India for winning 2024 T20 World Cup
Several former Indian cricketers could not hide their excitement in hailing the current lot for winning the 2024 T20 World Cup with a nail-biting seven-run win over South Africa in Barbados on June 29. It was their second T20 World Cup title after the triumph in the inaugural edition in 2007.
After winning the toss and batting first, the Men in Blue posted a formidable 176/7 in 20 overs, thanks to a well-compiled 76 off 59 by Virat Kohli. However, in reply, South Africa flexed their muscles to race to 147/4 in 15 overs, requiring a mere run-a-ball in the final five overs.
But the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh stepped up to stifle the South African batters, helping India win a humdinger.
Kohli was named the Player of the Match, while Bumrah was adjudged the Player of the Tournament.
Several former Indian cricketers took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the current side. Here are their reactions:
Ravichandran Ashwin, Virender Sehwag and Robin Uthappa kept the praises coming:
"We are champions!" wrote Ashwin.
"Yaaay ! The wait ends. What a comeback to win this. We win a World Cup after 13 years, and a T20 World Cup after 17 years. First T20 World Cup for us win since the inception of the IPL," said Sehwag.
"Champions!! WHAT. A. FINAL!!! Couldn't have been any better than this!! This is stuff of dreams," said Uthappa.
"Not what we did today, it is what we have been doing for the last 3-4 years" - Indian captain Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma praised his side for their performances over the past few years, resulting in the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.
Despite consistent performances, the Asian giants suffered several heartbreaking defeats in the semi-final and final of ICC events. India finally got over the line in a thriller to break their 11-year ICC title drought.
At the post-match presentation, a delighted Rohit said:
"Very hard to sum up what we have been through for the last 3-4 years. To be honest, we worked very hard as individuals and as a team a team, lot has gone on behind the scenes for us to be here today and win this game. It is not what we did today, it is what we have been doing for the last 3-4 years. That's the the result that has come for us today. We have played lots of high pressure games in the past as well and have been on the wrong side as well."
It was India's fourth World Cup win, two each in the ODI and T20I format, with Rohit joining MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev as the nation's World cup winning captains.