In the booming market of T20 cricket, India hosts the world’s most lucrative and popular league. Despite this investment, attraction, and attention, the Indian national team has not achieved significant success in international cricket.
To break this long drought and lift the trophy for the second time, Rohit Sharma’s Indian squad is heading to the USA and the Caribbean for the T20 World Cup.
There is no doubt that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is brimming with money and talent, attracting top cricketers from around the world. However, since the IPL’s rise, India hasn’t won a World Cup trophy.
After winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007, India only made it to the final once more in 2014, where they lost to Sri Lanka.
India’s title drought extends across various cricket formats, with their last International Cricket Council (ICC) title being the Champions Trophy in England in 2013. The last time India won a 50-over World Cup was in 2011.
Last year was quite exceptional. India reached the final of the World Test Championship in England but lost to Australia. A few months later, they lost the 50-over World Cup final to the same opponent on home soil, which angered India’s 1.4 billion cricket fans.
Seven months later, Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli are leading the upcoming campaign, which is likely their last T20 tournament in India’s blue jersey.
In the tournament’s 27 matches, Kohli has scored 1,141 runs with an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 131.30. Sharma has scored 963 runs in 39 matches with a strike rate of 127.88.
Both were absent from all T20 internationals between their defeat in the 2022 semi-final in Australia and January of this year, leading many to believe they wouldn’t play in the 2024 World Cup starting June 1.
However, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar dismissed these rumors. Now, all eyes will be on how much they contribute in terms of runs and strike rates.
Agarkar commented, “There is a difference between IPL and international cricket. The pressure of playing in the World Cup is different, so experience is needed.”
India will start their World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5. On June 9, they will face arch-rivals Pakistan in New York. They will play against the USA on June 12 and Canada on June 15.
