NEWS
Follow Us17 years ago, India scripted history when they became the first-ever side to win a T20 World Cup, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in a nervy final, which saw the game swing towards both sides. In 2024, India went past South Africa in another tense final, where they defended 176 by just seven runs.
With 30 off 30, the game was firmly in South Africa’s favour before Jasprit Bumrah turned the screws with a tight four-run over. From there, Hardik Pandya picked up the important wicket of Heinrich Klaasen as the pendulum totally swung in India’s favour.
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa, who was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup campaign, expressed his emotions, stating that ‘he cried’ for each player for the first 20 minutes after India’s win in Barbados. Uthappa also shed light on the tough environment that the Indian players are put in.
"I could feel every person's emotion so strongly. I cried for each individual player for the first 20 minutes after the victory. I went and bowed before God and to say thank you. As a cricketer who played for India, who has represented the country to say thank you for the victory because this was so long in coming. Everyone who played for India and represented our country knows the kind of crap we are put through," Uthappa stated as R Ashwin also shed tears after India's historic win.
More importantly, this win was a sweet ending to Rahul Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach. The Indian legend was on the wrong side of things back in the 2007 ODI World Cup, where, under his captaincy, India crashed out of the group stage.
Also Read: Rahul Dravid and the Chak De moment he needed and deserved
While he ended his playing career without a World Cup title, he helped the Men in Blue break their 11-year ICC trophy drought in 2024 in his last-ever series as India’s head coach. Dravid lifting the trophy in the most animated fashion was the highlight of the trophy ceremony, and Uthappa pointed out that Dravid was celebrating like a five-year-old kid.
"If I look at Rahul Dravid's journey as a coach and as a player. Think about how many years he's played. And in his last game as the coach and possibly his last day of ever being associated with the BCCI, that is the day he finally gets his first trophy. We saw that 50-year-old man celebrate like a 5-year-old kid. This is the beauty of sport," concluded Uthappa.
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