On this day in 2024: India end their 11-year ICC trophy drought to win the second Men's ICC T20 World Cup title

India defeated South Africa in the final to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The long wait for an International Cricket Council (ICC) title finally ended for the Indian Cricket Team on this day last year (29th June 2024). Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, ending their 11-year wait to win the title after enduring numerous heartbreaks. 

After the heartbreaking loss in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which took place at home, not many backed India to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as their best bet to win the title was in 2023, when the team played dominating brand of cricket and won all the games in the tournament except for the final.

But who knew Rohit Sharma and his men would devise an even more dominating effort? India went on to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 without losing a single game and etched their name in the record books. 

India’s journey in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 

India started their journey in the tournament with a win against the Ireland Cricket Team. The Rohit Sharma-led side defeated the opposition by eight wickets at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. They bundled out the opposition for just 96 runs and then chased the target inside 13 overs. 

After that, they faced arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue, and it was a miraculous game for them. India got all out for just 119 runs, and it seemed that it would be an easy victory for Pakistan, especially with the way they started. They were cruising to the win and were 73/2. However, it was Jasprit Bumrah who oozed his class and tilted the game in his team’s favour, helping them win by six runs. 

Then the win against the United States of America (USA) by seven wickets earned them a place in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The next stage started for them with the win against Afghanistan by 47 runs, followed by the victory against Bangladesh by 50 runs. 

India then crossed swords with Australia, and it was an absolute carnage by them, especially skipper Rohit Sharma, who played the magical knock of 92 runs. They posted a total of 205 and then restricted the opposition to 181 to win the game by 24 runs. This not only ensured them a place in the semi-final, but also eliminated Australia from the tournament. 

In the semi-final, India clashed with England and sweetly took the revenge of defeat in the semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. They thrashed England by 68 runs as after posting a total of 171, they bundled out the Three Lions for just 103 to book their berth in the final. 

The final showdown came against South Africa. Opting to bat, they had a torrid start as they lost three wickets quickly and were left reeling at 34 for three. However, Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47) brought their team back in the game with their 72-run stand. Before Shivam Dube (27) chipped in with a vital hand as India posted a total of 176 for seven. 

In the chase, India kept taking wickets at regular intervals, but Quinton de Kock (39), Tristan Stubbs (31) and Heinrich Klaasen (52) took the game away from India. With South Africa needing 30 runs off 30 balls, it was almost certain that they would win the game quite easily, and it would be another heartbreak for India. 

But Rohit Sharma displayed a magical captaincy, and a wonderful death bowling by Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya sealed the game for India by just seven runs. They snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and ended their ICC title drought.

Speaking after the win, Indian captain Rohit Sharma 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. But the guys understand what needs to be done. Today was the perfect example of when the back is against the wall, what is required. We stuck together as a team and the guys, all of us, even when at one point it was looking South Africa’s way.” 

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 

While India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, there was a massive heartbreak for fans as two of the icons of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, announced their retirement from the format right after the game. Not only them, Ravindra Jadeja also called time on his T20I career later.

Speaking about his retirement, Virat Kohli, who won the player of the match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final, said: 

“Well, this was my last T20 World Cup.. And.. This is exactly what we wanted to achieve. This is an amazing game. I was telling Rohit today when we went out to bat I was like.. one day you feel like you can’t get a run and then you come out and things happen. God is great. I bow my head in gratitude.“

“I am really grateful that I was able to get the job done for the team on the day it mattered the most. (On his different approach today) Just the occasion. It was now or never I knew. This is.. my last T20 game playing for India. It’s the last World Cup I was going to play, so I wanted to make the most of it and this was our aim. We wanted to win an ICC tournament.”

Top performers for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 

Most runs: 

Rohit Sharma – 257 runs 

Suryakumar Yadav – 199 runs 

Rishabh Pant – 171 runs 

Most wickets: 

Arshdeep Singh  – 17 wickets 

Jasprit Bumrah- 15 wickets (Player of the Tournament)

Hardik Pandya  – 11 wickets

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