NEW DELHI: India’s T20 Wo­rld Cup triumph was hailed by former cricketers on Sunday as inspiring the next generation, after Rohit Sharma and his team ended the country’s global trophy drought.

Virat Kohli hit a match-winning 76 to set up India’s seven-run win over South Africa in a thrilling final in Barbados on Saturday, before he and Rohit announced their retirement from T20 Internationals.

The title victory comes after more than a decade of heartbreaks in knockout matches of Inte­r­national Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments and their last crown at the 2013 Champions Trophy.

The cricket-crazy country erupted with midnight celebrations as fans in blue Indian shirts on cars and bikes took to the streets across cities including the capital New Delhi.

“One Nation, One Joy,” blazed the front page of the Times of India newspaper. “Finally, India’s fin­al,” said the Indian Express daily.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s captain for their first T20 World Cup triumph in 2007, praised the team for holding their nerve in a tense finale.

“Word Cup Champions 2024. My heart rate was up, well done on being calm, having the self-belief and doing what you guys did,” Dhoni wrote on social media.

“From all the Indians back home, and everywhere in the world, a big thank you for bringing the World Cup home.”

Indian Prime Minister Naren­dra Modi on Sunday said he had spoken to the team, congratulating them on their “excellent skill and spirit”, he wrote on social media.

Rohit was “excellence personified,” said Modi, who praised his “aggressive mindset, batting and captaincy”, while thanking coach Rahul Dravid’s “unwavering dedication [and] strategic insights.”

He also offered India’s thanks to Kohli, who he said had “shone in all forms of the game”.

“T20 cricket will miss you but I am confident you’ll continue to motivate the new generation of players.”

Rohit’s team came close to ending India’s title drought last year, losing to Australia the final of the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup.

But in a clash of the tournament’s two unbeaten sides in Barbados, India held their nerve to defend 176 while South Africa choked when needing 30 off 30 balls to win their first World Cup.

“Every star added to the Team India jersey inspires our nation’s starry-eyed children to move one step closer to their dreams,” batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who won the 2011 World Cup under Dhoni, wrote on social media.

“Life comes full circle for Indian cricket in the West Indies — from our lows in the 2007 ODI World Cup, to becoming a cricketing powerhouse and winning the T20WC in 2024.”

Former captain Saurav Ganguly offered his “heartiest congratulations to Rohit Sharma and his team” on social media.

“What a game to win,” he said. “The talent the country has, they will win many more.”

Kohli’s 59-ball knock, pace spea­rhead Jasprit Bumrah’s figures of 2-18, Hardik Pandya’s last over to defend 16 runs and a stunning catch on the boundary by Suryak­umar Yadav were the outstanding memories of a thrilling final.

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, rated Bumrah as the “greatest ever white ball seam bowler” and India as the “best team”.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

PTI in disarray
Updated 30 Nov, 2024

PTI in disarray

PTI’s protest plans came abruptly undone because key decisions were swayed by personal ambitions rather than political wisdom and restraint.
Tired tactics
30 Nov, 2024

Tired tactics

Matiullah's arrest appears to be a case of the state’s overzealous and misplaced application of the law.
Smog struggle
30 Nov, 2024

Smog struggle

AS smog continues to shroud parts of Pakistan, an Ipsos survey highlights the scope of this environmental hazard....
Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...