As an amateur blogger, if I’m allowed to call myself that now, I would like to hope I am as unbiased and data driven as possible in my analysis, and even opinion pieces. However this post is a true fan boy edition, to capture my thoughts after the events of yesterday. I would like to cover 3 key elements as a reflection of the victory, (1) The history of cricket in India as its true religion of the country (2) How 2024 compares to the other world cup wins (3) The avatars and their subplots.

India’s true religion

The greatest gift of the British empire in India is arguably this sport. In 1721 the British army would play cricket as regular exercise and the game caught on in the centuries that followed, with India getting official test status in 1932. Ever since the 1983 world cup win, cricket has become synonymous, with feeling of patriotism, sense of belonging and togetherness as one country. India is a country like many around the world, which came into being, through divide and rule. Even today there is so much India as a country can be divided by, caste, state, rich and the poor, politics, and of course religion. However the one red thread which surpasses any of this is the support and passion for its cricket team. It cannot solve the problems of the nation, but for those few hours/moments, it binds a nation which often can seem fragmented. One such incident always holds true in my head, post the horrific terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, India beat England in a test match for the ages with Sachin scoring a hundred. The country had been in mourning until then, and this small sporting event provided a glimmer of hope to a nation reeling from one of its greatest tragedies.

The thousands of people who would have paraded every street in India last night would have be expected, but the millions of Indians all over the globe would have celebrated with the same vigour.

The Significance of the victory

Assuming 1983 as the first real milestone in Indian cricket with respect to winning a global title, India has encountered a very mixed path to success. India won the the 1985 world championship in Australia which didnt quite have the same charm and wasnt really an ICC trophy but kept the team of the 80s on the world map. From then there was a very long wait for any success for the Indian team on the world stage, 87 (Semi-Final), 92 (First Round), 96 (Semi Final), 99 (Super Sixes). In 2002 India and Sri-Lanka were joint champions of the revamped knock out tournament which signalled the start of India’s golden generation and is a milestone which if often forgotten in the victories of today.

After the disaster of 2007 50 over world cup, India were Champions of the world in Joburg by beating Pakistan of the first World T20 later the same year. A fantastic tournament, which is an inflection point in the game of cricket and little would we know T20 would take it by storm. This was a significant victory, achieved by a young captain and his team of youthful exuberance. Personally this was a great victory but didn’t have the emotion as T20 was still a new format.

Then came 2011, and lets be honest it almost felt destined to happen. 2nd April 2011 will always be etched in memories of Indian supporters, the Dhoni six, Sachin being carried around in the Wankhede and 28 years of pain finally relieved.

India didn’t have to wait too long for their next ICC trophy, the 2013 champions trophy in England. This was a big surprise, as this was the first major tournament transitioning away from the 2011 team. Dhoni’s young brigade conquered England on a dreary Birmingham afternoon to bring the cup home.

From this moment on started the 11 year wait for an ICC trophy. The capitulation of 2014 at the hands of Srilanka, being blown away by WestIndies in 2016, the humilation against Pakistan in 2017 (I was there it was a tough one), wilting against New Zealand in 2019, hammered by England in 2022 and of course the heart ache of Ahmedabad last year. What made things worse was the knowledge that man for man the Indian team could have won any of these tournaments, but they just weren’t good enough on the day and couldnt break the mental barrier.

This made the T20 World Cup 2024 so important, knowing this could be the last chance saloon for this group of cricketers, before another transition begins. Even though the wait was 13 years for a world championship, it felt very much like 2011 when a group of cricketers got the prize they deserved and laid the path for the next generation to take forward.

The Avatars

The videos, reels and interviews in the last 24 hours has also highlighted the amount of hard work, dedication and sacrifice from so many individuals and for the sake of this blog, we can call them avatars.

Axar Patel

A cricketer people felt was surplus to requirements, as he was “too similar” to Jadeja. Arguably his coming of age as an all rounder on the international stage. He is now a genuine allrounder, his contributions with the bat vs Pakistan and in the Final were crucial and his bowling has gone from strength to strength.

Kuldeep Yadav

Another cricketer who has had a second dawn. After the 2019 hammering at Edgbaston, he was discarded from the team, suffered a major dip in form and was out of the reckoning until 2023. He didn’t have the best final, but his contributions in the super eights and in the semi final were second to none.

Rishabh Pant

From being one of the most feared wicket keeper batsman in the world, to fighting for his life after his accident in December 2022. He was given a second chance in life, and his determination, perseverance, not only landed him back at the highest level, but also playing like he never left. His keeping and contributions at number three were on point, even though his batting tapered off in the end, he is a key cog in the team. Welcome back Rishabh Pant, and we look forward the future with you.

Hardik Pandya

A cricketer who often divides opinion. There is no doubt he is irreplaceable, in the skills he brings to the Indian Team. He is now at the stage where he can walk into any team on the basis of his batting or bowling. From a personal perspective, its not been easy for him with all the flak he received as part of the Mumbai Indians fiasco. He was booed by his home fans, lots of personal rumours flying against him, but to his credit he remained silent. The outcry of emotion from him yesterday just showed how much he’s had to sacrifice to achieve the ultimate goal. His improved temperament and contributions probably make him the front runner to replace Rohit Sharma as the next captain of the while ball team.

Suryakumar Yadav

Mr 360, India’s AB. People criticised his performances in the 50 over world cup last year, and he didn’t have the best tournament. Since the world cup last year he’s had injuries and only really came back in the IPL. There were question marks on if he can do it on the world stage in a big world cup game, the answered was a resounding yes. His consistency in the tournament, innings vs Australia, England were of the highest calibre. Even though he missed out with the bat, his catch was the turning point of the match. This catch will live on in the memories of all Indians just like Kapil Dev’s catch of Viv Richards.

Jasprit Bumrah

It used to be said during the 90s, who would want to a fast bowler in India? The wickets, don’t help you and you’re basically a second class citizen in the team. India have had some good fast bowlers in the past (Javagal Srinath and Zaheer from the recent past and of course Kapil Dev) but none of them would make the opposition quake in their boots. Bumrah is not express pace but he is the most skilful white ball bowler of this generation. The control on his craft is just poetry in motion. His all round contribution and his spells in the game vs Pakistan and the 16th over yesterday were world class. He is rightly the man of the series, and India’s MVP.

Virat Kohli

What can one say about the best white ball batsman ever. Yes there I said it, I have always maintained Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman, but I think Virat Kohli has now cemented his place as the greatest white ball batsman. His record speaks for himself, but he is now also the only man after MS Dhoni to have won all 3 white ball ICC events. Leading up to the world cup, I was astounded to hear the clamour about his selection, and it epitomised the short sighted and short term world we live in. A few IPL performances do not make or break a player, 16 years of International experience and being a king cannot be replaced easily.

Rohit Sharma

When he came into the role, it was almost expected he would win bring India ICC trophies straightaway. After the disappointment of the Adelaide Semi Final in 2022, he changed the culture of the Indian white ball team in the most self less way as possible. He has lead by example and provided the impetus up front and this was evident by the 2023 world cup last year. The pain of losing that final really took it out of Rohit, and you could almost feel that throughout this tournament. After enduring a woeful IPL, with controversies and poor form, it wasn’t the most ideal build up to the tournament. But he has led a world class team to the crown they richly deserve with a plomb. You will be missed as a T20I batter hitman.

Rahul Dravid

A man who epitomises hard work, dedication, discipline, and humbleness. I was lucky enough to have met him 17 years ago, and his calmness, humility were the two key elements I took away from the conversation. He has arguably been India’s best test batsman, but in the shadows of Tendulkar. He was a great leader but could never be called that due to the debacle in the Windies in 2007. This world T20 was his last chance to obtain a piece of world cup silverware he has richly deserved, as one of Indian cricket’s greatest servant.

As a cricket fan I’m sad the tournament is over, you almost want it to keep going, I guess its a change of sport for the next month, over to the Euros for now!