As they say in cricket, batters win you matches and bowlers win you tournaments.  For Team India, it was Jasprit Bumrah who literally brought this adage to life. Showing why he is one of the finest of the lot, Bumrah changed the game in the T20 World Cup 2024 final when he claimed the all-important wickets of Reeza Hendricks in his very first over while coming back to bowl a very miserly over in the all-important 16th and also claiming the wicket of Marco Jansen.

He was the Player of the Tournament for his incredible numbers of 15 wickets while only conceding 4.17, which is by far and away the best economy rate in the history of the tournament. Talking at the post-match presentation, he highlighted what the win meant for him.

Bumrah said, “Usually I’m the one who tries to keep my emotions in check and get the job done but today I don’t have many words, I don’t usually cry after a game but the emotions are taking over. We were in trouble but we’re really over the moon to win from that stage. My family is here, we came close last time and we got the job done, there’s no better feeling than to get your team through in a game like this. It just felt good, tried to keep myself in a bubble and tried not to think too far ahead.”

He concluded by a small note about bowling the 16th over, adding, “When the big day comes, you have to do it, throughout the tournament I felt very clear. I always think about one ball and one over at a time, don’t think too far ahead. Emotions can take over, it was taking over but you have to keep it in check but now that the game is over, it can come out and you can scream and shout. I saw the ball was a bit scuffed up and it would reverse a bit, thought which would be the most difficult shot for the batter and was able to execute it.”