After the exhilarating conclusion of the T20 World Cup, it's time to reflect on who the real winners were in this festival of cricket's unpredictability and drama. Here's a playful breakdown of the Light Roller's awards for the tournament:
Best Laid Plans: Pakistan came into the World Cup meticulously prepared, with more T20Is under their belt than any other team in 2024. Despite coaxing Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim out of retirement and their CPL experience, they faltered against USA, missing out on Caribbean adventures altogether.
Pluckiest Underdogs: USA! The underdog team from the world's largest economy made waves by reaching the Super Eight, fueled by memorable wins over Canada and Pakistan, and perhaps a touch of Florida weather magic. The ICC's American dream, with its potential for big cash, lives on.
Luckiest Overdogs: India ended their 13-year World Cup drought with a well-planned campaign. From a synchronised schedule to venue familiarity and early match starts, everything fell into place for Rohit Sharma's squad. Goliath truly dominated every David they faced.
Best Element: Cricket thrives on its conditions, and the Caribbean winds played a starring role. From crosswinds dictating strategy to England hiring Kieron Pollard as a wind whisperer, the atmospheric drama added another layer to the game, though it didn't quite lift England's title drought.
Growing-the-Game-(Sort-Of) Award: The tournament saw widespread engagement, with Jomboy on commentary, Drake betting on India, and Chuck from Boynton Beach getting involved. Despite the buzz, attendance was marred by ICC pricing and early start times catering to subcontinent TV audiences.
Star Allrounder: Move over Pandya and Russell; USA's No. 11 Saurabh Netravalkar stole the show with his Super Over heroics against Pakistan. A left-arm swinger, computer engineer, ukulele player, and occasional singer—just needs to work on his catching!
Best Theatrical Performance: Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh in the Super Eight delivered Hollywood-worthy drama, with Rashid Khan's animated exchange and Gulbadin Naib's cramp-induced theatrics stealing the spotlight. A plot twist worthy of the silver screen.
Life-Comes-at-You-Fast Award: Australia's rollercoaster from net run rate musings to hoping for Bangladesh's favour showed how swiftly fortunes can change in cricket's high-stakes arena. Advance Australia Fair? Not this tournament.
Undisputed Champions in Their Field: South Africa's heartbreak in the final epitomised their journey—a run of close wins leading to a stunning collapse against India. Character is destiny, and South Africa, despite their talents, faced yet another agonising defeat when victory seemed within reach.
As the cheers fade and photos with Jay Shah are stored away, these awards celebrate the highs, lows, and eccentricities that made the T20 World Cup a spectacle to remember.