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3 Tactical Masterstrokes That Helped India Win T20 World Cup 2024 Ft. Rohit Sharma

India lifted T20 WC 2024 trophy [AP]India lifted T20 WC 2024 trophy [AP]

On Saturday night, team India made history by defeating South Africa by a mere seven-run margin to clinch the T20 World Cup 2024 title. 

Batting first, India posted a defendable total of 176 runs, thanks to Virat Kohli's half-century and valuable contributions from Axar Patel and Shivam Dube. 

Chasing 177, South Africa raced to the 150-run mark before India's sensational death-bowling restricted them to 169/8 in 20 overs. 

In addition to clinical individual performances, some brilliant tactical calls helped India win the game. 


Promoting Axar Patel to number 5

Axar Patel played a match-winning knock [AP]Axar Patel played a match-winning knock [AP]

After deciding to bat first, India had a shaky start, losing key wickets of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession. 

In such a scenario, the Indian fans had expected their regular number five, Shivam Dube, to join Virat Kohli in the middle. However, to everyone's surprise, the Indian team management promoted bowling all-rounder Axar Patel to stabilise the innings. 

The logic behind the move was straightforward. Axar had exhibited sublime form whenever he got an opportunity to bat earlier in the tournament. 

He looked comfortable under pressure during the Pakistan game, forming a brilliant consolidating stand with Rishabh Pant. 

On the other hand, Dube had struggled to get going in most of his outings. Therefore, India backed a more confident batter in Axar to bail them out of trouble while preserving Dube's power-hitting for the backend of the innings. 

This move paid rich dividends as Axar slammed a game-changing 47-run knock, with Dube capitalising on the solid foundation to score a quick-fire 16-ball 27. 


Rohit Sharma's perfect field placing vs De Kock

Swashbuckling South African batter Quinton de Kock is hailed highly for his scintillating stroke play, particularly on the leg side. The southpaw was South Africa's second-highest scorer in the T20 World Cup final as he contributed crucial 39 runs before Arshdeep Singh got rid of him in the 13th over. 

However, the mastermind of De Kock's dismissal was Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who made the Proteas batter fall in his trap. 

With the wind blowing from west to east (towards De Kock's off side), Rohit handed the ball to India's only left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh, asking him to target De Kock's body. 

Furthermore, he strategically placed a deep mid-wicket, a deep square leg and a deep fine leg as catching positions. 

As soon as Arshdeep bowled an off-cutter into De Kock's waist, the left-hander hit it in the air in a bid to up the ante. 

However, as he hit it against the breeze, the ball went straight to Kuldeep Yadav, who took a brilliant catch at deep fine leg to execute the plan. 


Saving Jasprit Bumrah for slog overs

Bumrah bowled two sensational overs at the death [AP]Bumrah bowled two sensational overs at the death [AP]

Heinrich Klaasen hitting Axar Patel for 24 runs in the 15th over was probably the most traumatic moment for Indian fans during the T20 World Cup final. 

When Arshdeep brought India back into the game, dismissing De Kock, everyone expected Rohit Sharma to re-introduce India's trump card, Jasprit Bumrah, into the attack and kill the game. 

However, Rohit thought otherwise and decided to bowl the spinners out during a critical juncture of the match. 

Although his call seemed defensive at that time, it eventually paid off, saving two crucial overs from Bumrah for the slog overs. 

Rohit knew that Bumrah could bring India back into the match even if the spinners went for runs. 

However, it wouldn't have worked the other way, as Klaasen and Miller were wise enough to safely negotiate Bumrah's overs and take on the remaining Indian bowlers. 

Yes, Axar definitely conceded 10-12 more runs than India would've liked at that stage, but keeping Bumrah for the final few overs worked wonders for the Men in Blue, leading them to their second T20 World Cup title.