(PTI Photo)
Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauded the Indian team for their victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. The match, held at Kensington Oval in Barbados, saw India clinch their second T20 World Cup title in 17 years and their first ICC tournament win since 2013.
Despite previous semifinal and final appearances without success, this time under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India prevailed. Senior players like Virat Kohli, who scored a crucial 76 under pressure, and Jasprit Bumrah, whose remarkable bowling sealed the victory, played pivotal roles in India’s triumph.
Nasser Hussain praised Team India on Sky Sports Cricket, highlighting Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional performance in the tournament.
“Best team! Best captain for me as well, Rohit Sharma. I think he showed that yesterday and he showed that throughout the tournament. Best bowler was Jasprit Bumrah, now he’s the Player of the Tournament. His economy was just around 4.5 in the whole tournament. That would be pretty good in 50 overs. Some would take it in a Test match but he has done it in a T20 World Cup,” Hussain said on a video posted on X by Sky Sports Cricket.
The ex-England batsman also described the environment at the stadium, where Indian players were visibly moved following their victory. He also discussed the immense expectations placed on India because of their extensive fan base and support.
“They’ve done it, they’ve gone unbeaten, and emotional scenes in the end. I was down there doing some flash interviews and people were in tears. They are steely and tough cricketers. Indian cricketers have to carry that weight of expectancy, weight of the crowd. Imagine if they would have lost that game, what would the narrative have been today. You can see Hardik in tears by saying what last six months have taken out of him on and off the cricket field,” Hussain exclaimed.
Nasser Hussain praised Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid for their partnership, which played a pivotal role in India’s transformation into a strong team.
“Rohit Sharma was beating the ground in tears. Some really emotional scenes! Rahul Dravid going around in his last game as coach, hugging everyone. I think that’s important actually. A team often becomes an extension of their captain and coach and I think that’s what they showed in the end. We know Rahul very well, he was a tough cricketer. Rohit Sharma is a calm but tough cricketer and a captain. I think that’s what they showed in the end,” Hussain stated.
The collaboration between Rahul Dravid as coach and Rohit Sharma as captain has proven highly effective for India. In 2023, India reached the finals of both the World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup under their leadership, though they narrowly missed out on lifting the trophies. Now, with this World Cup victory, it appears to be a fitting culmination for this successful partnership.
