A masterpiece in saving your best for last – India with a clinical performance in Ahmedabad, sealing back-to-back titles with a 96-run victory. The weight of mighty expectations followed the Indian team into a home World Cup, and if they wanted to stake their claim as the best T20I outfit in the history of the format, a win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad was non-negotiable. It hasn’t been a seamless campaign for India – but when it mattered most, everything clicked. This Indian team has the uncanny ability to show up in style in the biggest matches – and that is what earns you a historic World Cup title.
India got things started after New Zealand won the toss and put them in to bat – and it was a dream start. A terrific powerplay for the openers, who went hammer-and-tongs and pilfered 92 runs from the first six overs. A sign of what India could be at their best – finally. Criticism and consternation followed Abhishek Sharma into the final – going through a barren patch of form, should he even be involved? When it mattered most, Abhishek silenced his haters – an 18-ball half-century, cricket approximating his very best. Three sixes as he scored 52(21).
97*, 89, 89 – three performances in three must-win games, Sanju Samson delivering again and again when his team needed him the most. It was another masterful innings, with incredible acceleration – 8 sixes, as he rose to the top of the leaderboard. After the first wicket fell on 98, Ishan Kishan came in and continued the carnage. He made his excellent form count – 54(25) from his bat, pulling his weight in a century stand with Samson. By the 15th over, India were coasting on 203/1, looking set for close to 280.
