The year 2024 was a rollercoaster ride for Indian cricket fans. From winning the prestigious T20 World Cup to facing unexpected defeats on home soil, the Indian cricket team experienced several highs and lows. While India celebrated its moment of glory in the West Indies, losses against teams like New Zealand and Sri Lanka raised questions about the team’s consistency.
India’s Historic T20 World Cup Victory
India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup was the highlight of 2024. Held in the Caribbean, the tournament saw India perform exceptionally well, with the team clinching the title after a decade. The batting lineup, spearheaded by Virat Kohli and the young sensation Shubman Gill, ensured a strong performance throughout the tournament. The bowling unit, led by Jasprit Bumrah, delivered crucial breakthroughs in the final, helping India lift the trophy.
This victory brought immense pride to the nation and reaffirmed India’s dominance in the shortest format of the game.
A Shocking Clean Sweep by New Zealand
Despite their World Cup success, India’s Test performance at home left fans disappointed. New Zealand, without their star player Kane Williamson, made history by clean sweeping India 3-0 in a Test series on Indian soil. This was the first time India had faced such a crushing defeat at home, leaving the cricketing world stunned.
The Kiwi team showcased brilliant performances, with their bowlers dismantling India’s batting lineup in all three matches. Indian fans, accustomed to their team’s dominance at home, were left heartbroken.
ODI Series Defeat to Sri Lanka
India’s struggles were not limited to the Test format. Earlier in the year, the team faced a significant setback in an ODI series against Sri Lanka. The series, held in Colombo, saw young Sri Lankan spinners like Dunith Wellalage and Jeffrey Vandersay baffle the Indian batsmen.
After a tie in the first ODI, Sri Lanka secured back-to-back wins in the next two matches, defeating India by 32 runs and 110 runs, respectively. Despite individual brilliance from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the lack of support from other players resulted in India’s defeat.
Lessons for Team India
These defeats highlighted the importance of not underestimating opponents, regardless of the venue. While the T20 World Cup victory was a testament to India’s talent and determination, the setbacks in Tests and ODIs served as a wake-up call.
As the year ends, Indian cricket fans look forward to 2025, hoping for more consistent performances across all formats.
