The T20 World Cup 2024 has ended. India won after a tough final against South Africa. Virat Kohli was named Player of the Final for scoring more runs in one match than in all his previous matches combined.
Exciting innings were seen throughout the tournament. Rohit Sharma’s 92 against Australia knocked them out. Players like Nicholas Pooran, Aaron Jones, Sherfane Rutherford, and Andries Gous also had memorable performances.
Some innings didn’t get much attention. They were overshadowed by better performances or played by players from less famous teams.
Here are the top five underrated innings of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
5. Axar Patel vs South Africa
Virat Kohli was chosen as the best player of the match. Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling performance changed the game’s direction. Axar Patel also played a crucial role in India’s win against South Africa in the final.
Batting at No. 5, Axar Patel came in when India had lost three early wickets. He needed to stabilize the innings and help India score enough runs. While Kohli played steadily, Axar took on the role of the aggressive batsman.
Axar scored 47 runs, including four boundaries and a six. His innings was vital in India’s recovery from the early setbacks and helped them get back into the game.
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4. Nicholas Kirton vs Ireland
Nicholas Kirton, a talented left-handed batsman from Trinidad playing for Canada, stood out in a match against Ireland at New York’s Nassau County International Stadium. Despite a challenging pitch, Kirton played exceptionally, scoring 49 runs off 35 balls at a strike rate above 130. His performance was crucial in Canada achieving a competitive score. Despite a late surge by Ireland’s Mark Adair, Canada’s bowlers held firm, leading to Ireland falling short by 12 runs.
3. Michael Jones vs England
The game didn’t finish because of rain. In the 10 overs played, Michael Jones played amazingly, giving Scotland a good chance to surprise England. Jones hit four fours and two sixes, scoring well against England’s best bowlers. When it started raining, Scotland had scored 90 runs without losing any wickets in 10 overs, putting them in a good position to challenge Jos Buttler and England. If the rain hadn’t interrupted the game, Scotland’s chances would have been even better.
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2. Roston Chase vs South Africa
Roston Chase played two important innings for the West Indies in the 2024 T20 World Cup, one against South Africa. Even though the team didn’t win, Chase showed his skill.
In a tough match in Antigua, only Kyle Mayers and Chase scored more than 15 runs for the Windies. Chase faced a challenge against spin bowlers but managed to score 52 runs from 42 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
South Africa won in the final over, but Chase, who constantly improves his cricket skills, deserves recognition for his hard work.
1. Monank Patel vs Pakistan
A while ago, the United States of America achieved many memorable things after defeating Pakistan. However, it’s easy to forget how they first gained attention.
Facing a tough target of 160 runs against one of the best bowling teams, USA captain Monank Patel had a crucial role. He played perfectly, hitting seven fours and a six while keeping the score moving.
Andries Gous and Aaron Jones also contributed as USA matched the score on the last ball and won the Super Over that followed. This victory helped them advance to the Super 8 stage. Despite getting injured and not playing further in the tournament, Monank played a crucial role in America’s historic achievement that day.
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