“The leadership changes” “The legacy continues”; From Team MSD, ROKO to Team SKY. History defeated; History repeated.

 

“The leadership changes”
“The legacy continues”

From Team MSD, ROKO, to Team SKY.

History defeated; History repeated.

"Indian Cricket is currently at a Golden phase. From winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 to lifting another title in 2026, India’s success in just 21 months has reached extraordinary heights.”

Every cricket team dreams of such a run. Back to back T20 World Cup! To dominate an unpredictable format for the past 24 months is nothing short of remarkable.

A dream run for any cricket team in fact any team sport.

The list of key ICC Trophy Wins in the last 21 months. (2024–2026) 

• Senior Men's Team:

• 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.

• 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

• 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.

• Senior Women's Team:

• 2025 Women's ODI World Cup.

• Indian women's blind Cricket team won the inaugural World Cup in November 2025.

• U-19 Teams:

• 2025 Women's U-19 T20 World Cup.

• 2026 Men's U-19 World Cup. 

The finals of the T20 WC 2024 opened the horizon for Cricket to spread its wings in many more Countries to make the T20 WC 2026 successful with larger participation and further reach. BCCI and Cricket India have transformed the sports to reach greater heights, covering all segments and genders. The International Cricket Council quite successfully organised the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 through the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Cricket Board of Sri Lanka.

The associate members Zimbabwe beating Australia, Nepal almost winning the game against the powerful England, USA almost giving the shock of their life to the Indian Cricket team, until SKY rescued. The other teams, starting from the Netherlands, Ireland, and Scotland, announced their arrival on the bigger stage quite loudly.

The Finals of ICC T20 WC 2026:

The grand finale of the much-talked-about edition of the ICC T20 WC, 2026, saw some scintillating batting by Indian batters. The script was written for India to play like the Champions after two great back-to-back victories in the virtual quarter-finals and semi-finals.  

New Zealand were robbed of the advantage after winning the toss, and India massacred the New Zealand bowling with killer instinct in the power play.

The much-awaited suspense on the team combination was shared quite happily by Suryakumar Yadav after losing the toss. With the same winning combination playing in the finals, it was clear that the Indian thinktank had full faith in the Team and were ready to win the Cup.  New Zealand made one change, and the match was slated to be of great competitiveness. However, the script written was something different, which nobody could even dream of.

The power hitter in the power play demonstrated why he is being considered as a player who can devastate the plans of the opponents. He had to come back with full vengeance, and he proved his point by scoring 52 runs off 21 deliveries. A dream start, a big partnership by the opening pair and the next sealed the fate for New Zealand. Abhishek Sharma proved his point, which his Captain and Coach had believed in him. 

The highest stand by the opening pair in this World Cup. A massive score of 91 runs in 6 overs is just a phenomenal beginning, and New Zealand virtually lost the game there itself. Whether it was a bad bowling change decision or a clueless Captain, all could happen due to the devastating Abhishek-Sanju, the entwined twins.

At the end of 15 overs, the score stood at 201 for 1. The three top order batters scored 204 runs by the end of the 16th over out of 255 runs in 20 overs, showing the strength and strategy of the Indian team in this shorter form of the game. New Zealand could never cope with the pressure of the finals in front of 1.20 lakhs spectators & supporters and lost the game cheaply. 

Sanju Samson continued with a match-winning performance of 89 runs in 46 deliveries, Ishan Kishan with a score of 54 runs in 25 balls, proving their exceptional brilliance, both making comebacks in recent times.

A score of 159 in 19 overs and a match-winning exceptional performance of 4 wickets in 15 runs by Jasprit Bumrah changed the course of the match. The semi-finals had seen Axar Patel with some exceptional catching, and in the finals, it was Ishan Kishan rising to the occasion and performing like a champion in fielding and catching.

A lot of deliberations on team changes with India playing with Abhishek and New Zealand bringing Neesham in place of the off spinner, but the grand finale ended with New Zealand losing the game on all fronts.

Tactical blunders by the New Zealand Captain Stanter in team selection, erratic bowling changes in power play, adopting a negative strategy resulting in too many wide deliveries and meek surrender to the Indian bowling attack led by Bumrah. These gaps will always be discussed, but nothing will come in the way of the great Indian victory.

The grand comeback story:

The fascinating story of Sanju Samson became the most talked-about chapter in this edition of the World Cup. 

Brought back in the playing eleven in between the World Cup games, wherein, after the bilateral series, it was being mentioned in various forums that he would never get a chance to play for his Country. 

The fighter Sanju, grabbing the chance to play in his favourite batting position, proved his point by winning three awards, performing as the best player in all three games and the Player of the Tournament. 

Sanju candidly mentions in front of the camera during the award ceremony his reaching out to the Senior players for guidance. 

The world heard his fascinating story, which started in 2024 in the T20 WC, not getting a game to play, not getting a chance to prove his point. Shattered and out, Sanju retired within himself, depressed and unable to move out to start afresh, remembered the call of his family for not leaving the ground for which he is known.

After the last New Zealand bilateral series, unable to perform in different batting positions, Sanju was a lost man, on the verge of surrendering to his fate, when God had made different plans for him.

Sanju, during this critical juncture, found a messiah, the greatest of all, Sachin Tendulkar. He took refuge in the shadows of the God of Cricket to really find what he needed to do to stage a comeback.

Out of the playing eleven in the World Cup, not getting a chance to play in the group games, it was Sachin Tendulkar again to chip in and guide Sanju. Even Sachin called Sanju just a day before the finals to guide him.

The coach indicated Sanju Samson to play the next game against Zimbabwe, and then the virtual quarter-final against West Indies, and the rest is history. Sanju Samson modestly says that I want to live in the T20 World Cup and not compete with any of my teammates, a great statement by a great sportsperson.

Ishan Kishan also shared about his fight to regain mental strength, working with renewed passion to make a grand comeback. He mentioned following Virat Kohli, his disciplined regime and strong mental strength to continue at the highest level, labelled as the epitome of hard work and dedication. Ishan played the finals despite a tragedy happening in his family one day before the game. His dedication towards his Country was once again displayed to all his well-wishers.

The connection of individual magnetism and success :

The Indian story revolved around a bunch of talented stars who were all geared up to be the undisputed Champions in this white-ball format.

• Bumrah bowls and conquers. He is termed the National Treasure.

• Sanju waited for a chance and climbed to the top to become the man of the tournament.

• Ishan Kishan, the comeback king.

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• Hardik, the live wire of the team.

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• Axar, the vice captain, dropped from a game, bowls at his best, and takes sensational catches in the semi-finals to carry his team to the finals.

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• Abhishek is in and out of runs, but proves his point in the finals. He repaid the faith entrusted in him.

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• Tilak contributed regularly; Shivam Dube chipped in using a long handle & scoring freely, Varun Chakravarty, the other highest wicket taker, and  Arshdeep, rising to the occasion as and when required.

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  The others, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Md Siraj, and Washington Sundar, contributed as and when required by the team. Rinku continues to participate in the games post the sad demise of his father.

SKY, the Captain, needs to be given full credit to unite the team, lead the team, act as a big support and motivate all players with his cool and level-minded postures. One can very well make it out that Suryakumar Yadav is continuously learning the traits of good Captainship from his mentor and ex-captain Rohit Sharma.

• Bringing back Sanju in the crucial game against the West Indies opened the gateway for the Championship fight.

• Believing Abhishek Sharma paid rich dividends in the finals.

• Faith in Varun Chakravarty paved the way for breakthroughs when required.

• Shuffling the batting lineup in pushing Shivam Dube as and when required to use the long handle changed the pattern of the game.

• Bowling changes, keeping his cool under stressed conditions and also taking the blame for losing against South Africa in the Super 8 stage speak volumes about the leader.

Coach Gautam Gambhir and his associates made the team look like a unit, giving importance to each individual. Assigning specific roles to each one of them and making them feel an important part of the process to become a champion team. The coach transformed the team into a result-oriented, target-oriented, and task-oriented. Team over the individual strictly weighed in his mind.

Conclusion:

Gautam Gambhir, in the post-match press conference, mentions his role in setting the winning mindset, scoring runs to set a big target and to act as per the requirement of the team, setting aside the individual’s choice or desire. He also praises Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and the then BCCI Chairman Jay Saha for being a great support during the hour of crisis. Gautam Gambhir expresses his happiness, acknowledging the excellent role of Surya Kumar Yadav as the Captain.

Gautam Gambhir further makes two bold statements on his coaching assignments :

1. My role & job as a coach is to create a Champion team and not superstars.

2. I am not answerable to any critics or social media. I am only responsible and answerable to the 30 players in the dressing room.

The Captain clears the air of his retirement plans, adding the next target to win the Cricket gold medal in the new sporting event at the Los Angeles Olympics and the T20 World Cup 2028.

T20 Cricket has earned the tag of a global sport, travelling to Nations never thought of, some excellent Cricket by the teams playing for the first time made this event so special.