00:00India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final of the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad on Sunday
00:05to retain their crown and make it a third title. Cricket analyst Fazir Mohamed says
00:10India lived up to their status as favourites for the tournament,
00:13with the men in blue being the first to win the T20 World Cup at home.
00:17He says many factors came into play which did not happen overnight since it's all about investment.
00:23When you take into consideration India's size of their population, the passion for the game,
00:31the competitiveness that has been brought about by the advent of the IPL, the identifying of
00:37significant talents all around this huge nation, it really tells you that it was really only a
00:44matter of time, once they got everything lined up properly, that India would dominate the game,
00:49and especially the short format. Again, because of their exposure, their experience, the skills,
00:56the fact that the IPL is the highest level of franchise competition, it brings out the best,
01:01and yes, there are revenues involved, but it's also the opportunity to play for India.
01:06Playing important roles for the Indian team included keeper batter Sanju Samson and
01:11pacer Jaspreet Bumrah. Regarding Samson, he was player of the tournament for scoring 321 runs,
01:17including three half centuries. As such, Mohamed has lauded the unassuming player for his approach.
01:23He's certainly someone now with their new, with their head coach, is someone who fits in perfectly,
01:29and indeed his mindset is one of team first, and his attitude reflects that. It's selfless,
01:36it's about giving everything for the Indian cause, and at the end of it all, it's about India succeeding,
01:41and not so much to the player himself. But he is obviously someone, even at 31, with quite a few
01:47years left in him, who can make a continuing significant contribution to Indian cricket,
01:52and indeed he will be remembered for this T20. Scores of 97, 89 and 89 reflect a level of excellence,
02:00that is what the new India is all about.
02:02And what about Bumrah? The 32-year-old picked up 14 wickets in the tournament,
02:07with best figures of 4 for 15 in the final. Mohamed says Bumrah played a key role in the World
02:13Cup,
02:13and his attitude to the game speaks for itself.
02:16Someone who defies logic, who defies mechanics, with the pace that he can generate, and also much in
02:23the way that Joel Garner used to do for the West Indies, and the heyday of the West Indies in
02:28the 1980s,
02:29produced these searing Yorkers almost at will. And it's his ability to adjust, to respond to the
02:36challenge, to make the necessary changes, whatever the format, whether it's tests, whether it's one
02:42days, whether it's T20s, that really makes Jaspeet Bumrah somebody who is exceptional. There's also
02:47humility about it.
02:49While the focus has been on India, Mohamed believes runners-up New Zealand also deserve some credit for
02:54the way they performed during this World Cup. He says the Black Caps are known for punching above
02:59their weight, which was the case against South Africa in the semis.
03:03For a nation of just about 5 million population, they continue to exceed expectations, reaching
03:10global finals. 2015-2019, the 50 over World Cup. 2021, the T20, and again, 2026, the T20 World Cup final.
03:19They will test champions in 2021, defeating India in Southampton in England. So it's disappointing
03:27that they were unable to be as competitive as the neutrals would have hoped in this T20 World Cup final.
03:33But you've got to again give credit to what New Zealand have been able to achieve.
03:38Time will tell if the Kiwis are going to lift the T20 World Cup, with New Zealand being joint hosts
03:44with
03:44Australia for the 2028 edition of the abridged format.
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