India’s cricket team lost badly to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final in Adelaide. However, they bounced back strongly in the 2024 tournament, defeating England by 68 runs in the semi-final to reach the final match.
This is India’s first time reaching the T20 World Cups final since 2014. After their loss to England, they changed how they play T20 cricket and have improved a lot in limited-overs formats.
In the final, India will play against South Africa in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. South Africa is in their first-ever final in World Cup history.
In the 2014 final, Sri Lanka beat India. Some players from that 2014 squad are still playing in the 2024 T20 World Cup and want to win their second T20 World Cup trophy after their first win in 2007.
Now, let’s look at five Indian players who were in the 2014 T20 World Cup final and are still playing in 2024.
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, India’s current captain, played in the 2014 T20 World Cup final, scoring 29 runs from 26 balls as an opening batsman. By 2024, he has become a legendary figure in white-ball cricket. Despite struggling for form before the tournament, Rohit’s leadership was crucial, especially in the last two matches. His blazing 92 off 41 balls against Australia and a vital half-century against England in the semi-final were highlights. After the disappointment of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, Rohit aims to lead India to their second T20 World Cup title, showcasing a more mature and aggressive approach that has revitalized India’s fortunes in this format.
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2. Virat Kohli
Kohli hasn’t scored many runs in the current T20 World Cup, but he’s known as one of the best players in limited-overs cricket. After a great performance in the IPL 2024, experts thought this World Cup could be his best yet.
Things haven’t gone as expected, but Kohli, being a top-class player, is always capable of a big innings. Coach Rahul Dravid is hopeful Kohli will shine in the final in Barbados.
In the 2014 T20 World Cups, Kohli played a crucial role. He scored 77 runs off 58 balls, helping India reach 130 runs. He started strong, hitting boundaries freely. However, Sri Lanka’s Malinga and Kulasekara bowled brilliantly in the final overs, limiting India’s score to 130 runs.
3. Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja is a rare player who excels in all aspects of cricket. He’s a superb fielder and a proactive batter. On flat pitches, he might give away runs, but in favorable conditions, he becomes a formidable bowler.
He played in the 2014 T20 World Cup final and is set to play in the 2024 final too. Although he hasn’t always performed at his best with bat or ball, he thrives in important matches. With his skills, he’s a crucial player you can’t leave out of your team.
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4. Ravichandran Ashwin
In the past, Ashwin and Jadeja were India’s main spinners for all types of cricket. Ashwin used to play regularly in white-ball matches, but now newer players like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal have replaced him in India’s white-ball teams.
Although Ashwin was in the T20 World Cups squads in 2021 and 2022, he didn’t play much in T20 matches before or after. In the 2014 final, Thisara Perera hit a boundary off Ashwin’s last delivery to help Sri Lanka win.
However, Ashwin remains an important player in India’s Test cricket team and is considered one of the best off-spinners in this format. Despite his skills, he hasn’t been as successful in getting regular wickets in shorter formats and often plays a supportive role rather than being a leading wicket-taker.
5. Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane used to be considered one of India’s best test batsmen, along with Virat Kohli. But he’s struggled with poor form for a while now, so selectors aren’t considering him for any formats. In the 2014 T20 World Cup final, he only scored three runs.
It’s doubtful he’ll play limited-overs cricket again soon, as India’s batting style has changed. Even in Test matches, it’s unlikely selectors will go back to him. Rahane had many opportunities, so maybe it’s time for younger players to get more chances.
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