India celebrated a historic triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, defeating New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs in the final to claim their third title. The victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium also made India the first team to defend a T20 World Cup title and win the tournament on home soil. Yet, former England pacer Steve Harmison believes the champions were not the most complete side in the competition.
Speaking about the tournament, Harmison argued that South Africa national cricket team were actually the best team overall due to their consistency. According to him, India excelled in crucial situations rather than dominating every stage of the tournament.
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India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, had an impressive campaign, winning all their group matches against teams including United States national cricket team and Namibia national cricket team. However, their performances were not always comfortable, as the United States gave them a serious scare in the opening match.
The only defeat for India came during the Super 8 stage against South Africa. Nevertheless, the team quickly recovered, registering must-win victories over Zimbabwe national cricket team and West Indies national cricket team to secure a place in the semi-finals.
In the knockout rounds, India showed their true strength. They edged past England national cricket team in a tense semi-final before delivering a commanding performance in the final. Brilliant half-centuries from Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan helped India post a huge total of 255/5.
Despite acknowledging India’s ability to handle pressure and win key moments, Harmison insisted that South Africa had been the most consistent side throughout the tournament. Still, India’s dominance in the decisive matches ensured that the trophy remained with the hosts.
