On Saturday, Indian cricket fans prayed, fasted, and performed fire rituals in the hopes that their side would finally break their country’s title drought in the Twenty20 World Cup final.
In the ninth installment of the competition, both South Africa and Rohit Sharma’s India are undefeated heading into the epic final match in Barbados.
Despite having the best rankings in Twenty20s, one-day internationals, and Tests, India has struggled to go past the quarterfinals in ICC competitions since the 2013 Champions Trophy, the last time they achieved success at a global level.
Last year, Rohit and his team were blown away by Australia in the final f the One-Day International World Cup at Ahmedabad, the largest cricket stadium in the world. It was an excruciatingly close call.
South Africa is playing in their first-ever men’s World Cup final, and footage of fans doing Hindu fire rites to pray for the team’s victory surfaced on news networks multiple times.
Several of them showed skipper Rohit, who has scored three half-centuries this tournament, adorned with floral garlands, clutching the World Cup trophy.
On the day of the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 final cricket match between South Africa and India, a kitemaker in Amritsar presents kites embellished with images of the two teams’ players on June 28, 2024. via the AFP
A victory would be a fitting farewell for departing coach Rahul Dravid after India eliminated reigning champions England in the Guyana semi-final.
“I hope the team wins it for Rahul Dravid,” Saad Majeed, an enthusiastic fan wearing an Indian jersey, told AFP, adding, “With a quiet prayer on my lips.”
“Rohit is playing exceptionally well, and I have no doubt that a goal from him would lead the team to a historic victory, allowing us to put the past disappointments in the past.”
Another supporter, Sumit Dagar, made the following statement from Delhi: “I will be fasting since morning and will eat only when India will win against South Africa today.” Defeat is completely out of the question.
‘Complete return’
“I am very happy for Rohit Sharma,” said Sourav Ganguly, a former captain of India, while speaking to media on Friday.
There is a complete circle to life. A man who was not even captain of an Indian Premier League side six months ago is now leading India to an undefeated World Cup final,” he remarked, referring to the Mumbai Indians.
Partnering Rohit at the top of the order, star batsman Virat Kohli has been underwhelming, amassing 75 runs in seven matches.
Star batsman Virat Kohli, who is 35 years old, may not play in another World Cup (L). via the AFP
However, Ganguly, who was previously the president of India’s Board of Control for Cricket, supported the struggling star’s comeback in the championship match.
“He is a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Ganguly remarked. “He will have a couple of poor performances, but I’m rooting for him to make it to the championship game. He’s only human.”
With Kohli at 35 years of age and Rohit two years older, this World Cup could be their final appearance. The next Twenty20 championship is in 2026. In 2007, Rohit helped India win the Twenty20 World Cup, while in 2011, Kohli won the One-Day International title under MS Dhoni.
When Dhoni hoisted the trophy at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the nation went into ecstasy, marking India’s last World Cup victory.
After Dhoni’s squad defeated England in the 50-over Champions Trophy final two years later, fans have had to wait another thirteen years for another big trophy.
After losing in the semifinals of the 2019 One-Day International World Cup and the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup, Indian fans were once again devastated by last year’s One-Day International final loss.
