(AP Photo)
Sunil Gavaskar likened India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup to hitting a century after being dismissed in the 90s. He noted that under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the team had consistently reached the semi-finals and finals without securing the title, making the victory akin to finally reaching the milestone of scoring a hundred.
“It is a great win after such a long time. Earlier, I kept saying that India was getting 90s but not getting centuries because they were reaching semi-finals and finals. Now, they have got a century and what a wonderful century this is,” the former India captain was quoted as saying by PTI.
In India, jubilation swept across the nation as the ‘Men in Blue’ clinched their second T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by a thrilling seven-run margin in a nail-biting encounter on Saturday.
From bustling cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru, to quiet villages, streets overflowed with joyous celebrations. Thousands of fans poured out onto the streets, waving flags, setting off fireworks, and singing in harmony to commemorate this historic victory.
The scenes across India were a vivid testament to the profound bond between the nation and its cricketing icons. Clad in blue jerseys with faces adorned in the tricolour, fans danced and cheered deep into the night, sharing in the collective triumph.
Meanwhile, for millions of South African supporters, the outcome was deeply disappointing. Despite their team’s spirited performance and narrow margins, they witnessed victory slip agonizingly away in the final moments of the match. The Proteas, who had displayed commendable resilience throughout the tournament, fell short in the ultimate showdown.
This victory held immense significance in the annals of Indian cricket. It had been eleven years since MS Dhoni last hoisted an ICC trophy for India. Now, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the team had reclaimed the T20 World Cup, solidifying their place in history and sparking exuberant celebrations across the country.
