The dust has settled on the electrifying T20 World Cup final, where India emerged victorious against South Africa at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. While the celebrations continue, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled its much-awaited “Team of the Tournament.” This prestigious squad recognizes the players who shone the brightest throughout the competition. Surprisingly, despite being Man of the Match in the finals, Virat Kohli failed to make it into the team.
Despite a heroic performance from Virat Kohli in the finals, where he smashed a match-winning 76 and was named Player of the Match, Indian batting legend Virat Kohli did not find a place in the ICC’s XI. However, India’s overall dominance is reflected by a whopping 6 players included in the team.
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Leading the Indian charge is skipper Rohit Sharma. He displayed exceptional leadership throughout the tournament, not only guiding his team to victory but also amassing a staggering 257 runs at a blistering strike rate of over 156. This impressive performance placed him as the second-highest run-scorer, just behind Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Another crucial cog in India’s winning run was Jasprit Bumrah. He was rightfully declared Player of the Tournament for his exceptional bowling. Bumrah’s ability to not only take wickets (15 to be precise) but also strangle the opposition’s run flow proved invaluable. His economy rate of a mere 4.17 sets a new record for the T20 World Cup.
Joining Rohit and Bumrah in the ICC squad are Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh. Suryakumar’s innovative strokeplay and Hardik’s all-around brilliance were instrumental in India’s success. Axar Patel’s left-arm spin provided crucial breakthroughs, while young Arshdeep Singh impressed everyone with his pace and wicket-taking ability, sharing the top spot for most wickets (17) with Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Speaking of Afghanistan, their remarkable journey to the semi-finals is further enhanced by the inclusion of 3 players in the ICC team. Left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi, as mentioned earlier, for his wicket-taking ability. Leading the way with the bat was wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who topped the run charts with a phenomenal 281 runs. Afghanistan’s inspirational captain, Rashid Khan, also found a place in the team, showcasing his leadership qualities alongside his 14 wickets at a very economical rate.
Rounding out the ICC squad are two well-deserved players: Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran. Stoinis’ power-hitting and handy bowling skills brought valuable balance to the team, while Pooran’s explosive batting provided the Windies with a much-needed spark.
It’s worth noting that despite being runners-up, South Africa doesn’t have a representative in the main XI. However, their fast bowler Anrich Nortje was selected as the 12th man, acknowledging his impactful bowling performances.
The ICC’s “Team of the Tournament” shows the immense talent of the players who performed well throughout the T20 World Cup 2024. It celebrates individual brilliance and consistent performances that left a lasting impression on the cricketing world. This team truly reflects the players who were the driving force behind their teams’ success.
T20 World Cup 2024: ICC Team of The Tournament
Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran. 12th man – Anrich Nortje.
