Six Indian players have been honored in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament following India’s thrilling victory over South Africa in Barbados on Saturday. This win marks India’s second T20 World Cup title, ending a 17-year drought since their first win in 2007.
Indian Players in the Team of the Tournament
India’s captain Rohit Sharma leads the team, joined by Player of the Tournament Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel. This selection highlights the outstanding performances of these players throughout the tournament.
- Rohit Sharma (Captain): Rohit’s leadership was instrumental in guiding India to victory. Despite a tough start in the final, his strategic decisions played a crucial role in India’s success.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Named Player of the Tournament, Bumrah’s exceptional bowling was pivotal, consistently taking key wickets and maintaining pressure on the opposition.
- Hardik Pandya: As an all-rounder, Pandya contributed significantly with both bat and ball, showcasing his versatility and importance to the team.
- Suryakumar Yadav: Yadav’s aggressive batting style and ability to score quickly made him a vital part of India’s batting lineup.
- Arshdeep Singh: Singh’s impressive performances with the ball, especially in the death overs, were crucial for India’s bowling strategy.
- Axar Patel: Patel’s all-round capabilities added depth to both the batting and bowling departments, making him a valuable asset to the team.
Other Notable Inclusions
The team also features three Afghan players—Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, and Fazalhaq Farooqi. West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran and Australia’s Marcus Stoinis are also included, with South Africa’s pacer Anrich Nortje named as the 12th man.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan, Wicketkeeper): Gurbaz’s exceptional wicketkeeping skills and consistent batting performances earned him a spot in the team.
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): Known for his exceptional spin bowling, Khan was a standout performer throughout the tournament.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan): Farooqi’s pace and ability to take crucial wickets made him a key player for Afghanistan.
- Nicholas Pooran (West Indies): Pooran’s explosive batting and ability to change the game’s momentum were instrumental for his team.
- Marcus Stoinis (Australia): Stoinis’ all-round abilities, particularly his power-hitting, made significant contributions to Australia’s campaign.
- Anrich Nortje (South Africa, 12th man): Nortje’s pace and wicket-taking prowess were notable, although South Africa fell short in the final.
The Final Showdown
In the final, South Africa, chasing a target of 177, fell just seven runs short, ending at 170. Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen were the standout performers for South Africa, scoring 39 off 31 and 52 off 27, respectively.
India, having won the toss and elected to bat first, faced early setbacks with Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav dismissed quickly. However, Virat Kohli, who had struggled throughout the tournament, delivered a masterful innings of 76 runs off 59 balls, guiding India to a total of 176/7.
Farewell to Legends
The final also marked the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is. Kohli, accepting the Player of the Match award, confirmed this was his last T20I match. His illustrious T20I career, which began in 2010, saw him represent India in 125 matches, scoring 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69.
Historical Significance
This victory not only adds a second T20 World Cup title to India’s achievements but also ends their long wait for an ICC trophy since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Nicholas Pooran
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Marcus Stoinis
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Rashid Khan
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Anrich Nortje (12th man)
