One year ago today, Indian cricket fans witnessed pure magic in Barbados as the Men in Blue finally lifted their second T20 World Cup trophy, ending a painful 13-year drought.
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The Perfect Storm in Paradise
June 29 marks one year since India cricket team ended their 13-year-wait to finally lay their hands on an ICC trophy. At the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados, India won by 7 runs to win their second T20 World Cup title, creating memories that will last forever.
Early Jitters Nearly Derailed the Dream
The final started like a nightmare for Indian fans. Batting first, India faced an early setback as skipper Rohit was sent packing for just 9 runs in the 2nd over. Their worries compounded when Rishabh Pant was sent packing for a duck. With India at 34 runs for the loss of three wickets, panic was setting in.
Captain Rohit Sharma later admitted his anxiety: “I was getting uncomfortable inside the dressing room after India’s awful start, but had the belief in India’s lower-order”.
Virat Kohli’s Redemption Story
After struggling throughout the tournament with just 75 runs in seven matches, Kohli produced a match-winning knock of 76 in his final international game in this format. The veteran anchored the innings perfectly, allowing others to play freely around him.
The Real Game-Changer: Axar Patel
While Kohli grabbed headlines, Rohit credited Axar Patel as the game-changer of the final match, saying “Not many people talk about his innings. But that innings was the real game-changer. Scoring 47 runs off 31 balls was extremely crucial”.
𝟮𝟵.𝟬𝟲.𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 🗓️
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 29, 2025
Do you remember what 𝙀𝙪𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙖 feels like?
Relive that Champions feeling with the Champions 😇
One year of celebrating pride, glory, and togetherness 🇮🇳🏆#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/PubQhonxeM
Key Match Statistics
| Player | Runs | Balls | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 76 | 59 | Player of Match |
| Axar Patel | 47 | 31 | Game-changer |
| Shivam Dube | 27 | 16 | Late flourish |
| Team Total | 176/7 | 20 overs | Winning score |
Bumrah’s Death-Over Masterclass
When South Africa needed just 30 runs from 30 balls, Bumrah bowled what was a masterclass to get India right back into the game. His precise yorkers and death bowling under pressure showcased why he’s considered one of the world’s finest.
The Catch That Sealed History
Suryakumar Yadav’s wonder catch sealed the deal for Rohit and co. The spectacular boundary-line catch to dismiss David Miller became an instant classic, drawing comparisons to Kapil Dev’s famous 1983 World Cup catch.
Emotional Farewells
Following India’s victory, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from the T20I cricket. The trio went out on the highest possible note, with Rohit becoming the first captain to win 50 T20I matches.
Breaking Records & Creating History
This victory was special for multiple reasons:
- India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup by winning 8 matches without losing
- India broke the record of the longest time between successive tournament wins (17 years)
- India scored the highest-ever total in the final of a T20 World Cup (176)
Captain Rohit’s Emotional Reflection: “Barbados will forever be in my veins. This is the proudest moment of my cricketing career. To lift that trophy, to be crowned ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Champions—it was surreal”.
The Legacy Lives On
This triumph wasn’t just about ending a drought—it was about a generation of cricketers fulfilling their ultimate dream. From Rohit’s emotional leadership to Kohli’s final T20I masterpiece, this match had everything that makes cricket beautiful.
As India prepares for future challenges, this historic T20 World Cup victory will remain the gold standard of how champions are made under pressure.
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