Ahmedabad, March 8 Playing a crucial role in India's triumphant campaign, every member of the Indian team contributed significantly during the one-month T20 World Cup.
In a 20-team ICC event, India's team stood out with a number of match-winners, each capable of turning the game in their favor.
India were the favorites heading into the T20 showpiece, but they faced some challenges along the way.
However, the team eventually displayed the dominance expected of them in the semifinals and final, effectively shutting down their opponents.
From a batting perspective,
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After a period of inconsistency, Sanju Samson finally realized his potential in this tournament. Despite losing his place in the side due to poor form, Samson got an opportunity in the Super 8 stage and seized it.
Samson scored crucial knocks of 97, 89, and 89 in India's three must-win games, including the final, leaving an indelible mark on the tournament.
His technique was questioned, but he overcame those doubts to lay the foundation for India's victories over the West Indies, England, and New Zealand in the knockout rounds.
Abhishek Sharma
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India's biggest match-winner over the past 18 months, Abhishek Sharma, struggled initially in the tournament.
The stomach infection in the early part of the competition impacted his form and fitness, but the team management kept faith in him.
He repaid their faith by smashing a timely half-century in the final, helping India reach 92/0 in the powerplay and effectively ending the Black Caps' chances.
Ishan Kishan
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Kishan was moved to number three to accommodate Samson in the top two, but this change had minimal impact on his performance. Kishan also thrived in the final, scoring 54 off 25 balls.
His most significant contribution came in the clash against Pakistan in Colombo, where he scored 77 off 40 balls on a challenging surface.
He also scored 38 off 24 balls against Zimbabwe in the Super 8. Kishan, who was not part of the team's plans a couple of months ago, has made the most of the opportunities and solidified his place in the side.
Suryakumar Yadav
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Suryakumar Yadav faced immense pressure going into the tournament. Despite India's title win in Barbados in June 2024, he had been struggling with the bat. However, three half-centuries in the preceding bilateral series against New Zealand gave him much-needed confidence.
He made an instant impact by scoring 84 not out in India's tournament opener against USA at Wankhede. Surya played the conditions to perfection, helping the team out of trouble.
However, he would have liked more runs since the Super 8 phase of the tournament.
Shivam Dube:
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Dube, who was also part of the successful 2024 campaign, has come of age in the last six months. He was lethal against the spinners in the middle overs and has now improved his game against pacers.
Silently, he played a series of impactful innings through the tournament, most notably the 66 against the Netherlands, the 43 against England in the semifinal, and his 26 not out off 8 balls in the final.
Tilak Varma
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Tilak was moved from number three to five due to a change in the team composition that saw Samson batting alongside Abhishek Sharma.
Having undergone a groin surgery ahead of the tournament, Tilak struggled in the league phase before finding his rhythm in the middle order.
A 44 off 16 balls against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 provided the opening he was looking for.
His 21 off 7 balls in the semifinal was also critical in the context of the game, given the high-scoring Wankhede stadium.
Hardik Pandya
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Hardik Pandya is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in world cricket, and he reaffirmed his status with his performances during the campaign. He trusted him for bowling in any stage of the innings.
He got two fifties with the bat and his 27 off 12 balls against England helped India cross the 250-run mark batting first.
Axar Patel
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Vice-captain Axar Patel thought he got the rough end of the stick when he was dropped for the two games in Ahmedabad, including the Super 8 contest against South Africa that India lost.
He was duly brought back into the side for the must-win game against the West Indies. His brilliance came in the semifinal when he took two sensational catches to make a decisive difference.
In the final too, he made his presence felt. Called upon to bowl in the powerplay, Axar got the dangerous Finn Allen out to put New Zealand on the backfoot.
Varun Chakaravarthy
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Chakaravarthy, India's X-factor bowler over the past 18 months, lost form in the Super 8 but was effective earlier in the tournament.
He went for plenty of runs in the knockout games, but the team management kept faith in him.
He did get the explosive Tim Seifert out, but was far from his best even in the summit clash.
