During the ninth T20 World Cup edition, India completed an 11-year dry spell through clinching the ICC trophy. The Men in Blue achieved their second T20 World Cup title by beating South Africa through 7 runs in the final on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
USA and the West Indies co-hosted the event, and one of the ICC’s main objectives was to expand the game’s reach in the US. This goal seems to have been achieved, with large crowds at pre-tournament matches in Dallas and New York migrating to the Caribbean.
Here are the 3 reasons why the 2024 T20 World Cup was the finest:
#1 Variety of pitches
Eventual champions India rightfully claimed the title after navigating various pitch conditions throughout the T20 World Cup. The Nassau County Cricket Club in New York favored fast bowlers, making scores in the 120-130 range highly competitive.
The tournament then moved to the Caribbean, where Barbados and St. Lucia offered excellent batting conditions, resulting in high-scoring games. Meanwhile, venues like Trinidad, Antigua, St. Vincent, and Guyana provided enough support for spinners, making scores of 150-160 competitive.
It can be argued that no other edition of the tournament showcased such a diverse range of conditions and pitches.
#2 Underdog stories ft. USA and Afghanistan
Everyone loves an underdog story, and the 20-team competition provided several instances where lesser-fancied teams excelled against the favorites. The USA’s victory over Pakistan in a Super Over, followed by their qualification for the Super 8, was a significant achievement for the co-hosts.
Afghanistan also achieved a remarkable victory against New Zealand in the group stage, securing their spot in the Super 8 at the Kiwis’ expense. However, few predicted that the Afghans would reach the semifinals after defeating Australia. Scotland also came close to making it to the Super 8 but narrowly missed out due to net run rate.
#3 Two undefeated teams competing in an exhilarating T20 World Cup final
For the first time in T20 World Cup history, Team India remained undefeated en route to claiming the title. South Africa also entered the final unbeaten, having won all seven of their matches, most of which were tightly contested, adding to the tournament’s reputation as the best T20 World Cup to date.
Needing 27 runs off 28 balls and six wickets in hand, many expected an easy victory for South Africa, which could end the tournament with few surprises
However, the Indian team reversed the situation and applied pressure that South Africa couldn’t handle. India’s unexpected victory added a thrilling finale to what was already considered the best edition of the tournament.
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