South Africa were coasting to a win in the ICC T20 World Cup when an extraordinary catch at the boundary by Suryakumar Yadav changed the course of the game. Going by past experiences, Indian fans had reconciled themselves to their team losing a final, once again, despite being highest ranked in all formats of the game. Everything came together, however, and the only unbeaten team of the tournament came out on top. It led to huge celebrations in India and across the world. Some may ascribe the victory to the other team’s reputed tendency to choke, but closer examination shows it was the better team that won.
The credit does not just go to the team that took the honours on the crucial day. It also goes to the well-managed eco-system of Indian cricket. The right persons were appointed for the right jobs; the reason for the earlier defeats analysed; and bold decisions taken on the changes to be made. It will have been noted how a well-thought out strategy was in play throughout the tournament, based on the playing conditions. There was criticism about some players being left out and others being retained, but it proved to be the wise approach in the end. It had to be a team that built upon its strengths, with each player flawlessly completing the picture. Be it batting, fielding or bowling, it rose to the occasion, as against proving vulnerable at the crucial moment. This cannot be said about the other teams, which did not seem well enough prepared, with some players not proving up to the mark.
It is in this context that Coach Rahul Dravid and Captain Rohit Sharma should be praised for their excellent reading of pitches and conditions in a tournament that was played in starkly different venues in the US and West Indies. The decision to bat first in the final was questioned but eventually proved to be right. The pressure was maintained throughout the South African innings, with breakthroughs being achieved by the bowlers at crucial times – underlining the value of a star like Jasprit Bumrah.
The event will also prove historic in that two greats of the game, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, bid adieu to the T20 format at the international level. It is well-timed not just in terms of the occasion, but also by opening the door to the many younger players of enormous talent waiting in the wings. Those wishing to transform India’s potential into performance in other sports should take a tutorial from the BCCI.
