Hardik Pandya, the dynamic Indian all-rounder, recently shared an image of his custom-made 'World Champion' ring, commemorating India’s T20 World Cup victory. His post instantly went viral, capturing the admiration of fans and sparking pride nationwide. Pandya’s influence in India's triumph, capped by his impressive performances both with bat and ball, has cemented his legacy in Indian cricket.

Hardik’s ‘World Champion’ ring: A tribute to T20 glory

Pandya’s ‘World Champion’ ring, featuring the T20 World Cup trophy design at its center, proudly displays “World” at the top and “Champion” inscribed at the bottom. It’s a fitting tribute to his role in India’s T20 World Cup win, where his 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57 and 11 wickets at an economy of 7.64 were crucial. Pandya’s last-over heroics in the final match, where he defended 16 runs against South Africa, showcased his nerve and skill under pressure.

This victory also marked India’s first T20 World Cup title in 17 years, and Pandya’s contributions silenced critics who doubted him following his captaincy struggles with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. His post-victory celebrations and the viral image of him holding the trophy have only added to his popularity among fans.

See Also: Sundar & Jadeja shine, but New Zealand take the edge over India

Pandya to lead Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 as core players are retained

Following his World Cup success, Mumbai Indians have shown faith in Pandya’s leadership by retaining him as captain for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Despite a challenging 2024 season that saw Mumbai finish at the bottom of the table, the franchise retained their core squad, including Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma, with Pandya earning INR 16.35 crore.

Mumbai Indians have INR 45 crore left for the 2025 auction as they prepare for another season with a solid core. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see Pandya return to IPL action, hoping he can bring the same tenacity and skill that led India to the T20 World Cup title.

England will begin their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on October 5 against Bangladesh in Sharjah. They will also play against South Africa, Scotland and West Indies in the group stage and from there the top two teams from the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals as well. Before that, veteran pace bowler Kate Cross said that England on their day can beat any team and she is supporting the side to do well.

"England, on their best day, can beat any team" - Kate Cross

The veteran speedster also shared England’s performance in the women’s Ashes last year and she also added that they all assembled in the UAE a few days ago and are training hard to get used to the conditions as well. She also added that there are still a few days left for them to prepare well and shared that the players will be full of confidence leading to the T20 World Cup as well.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024

“England, on their best day, can beat any team. I think the Ashes that we had last summer was a really good display of what we look like when we’re at our best. The girls have been out there in the UAE for about 10 days now so they've had a brilliant preparation. There's still a few games and days before the first game but I'm sure they'll go into it full of confidence,” Kate Cross said on Sky Sports News.

Tammy Beaumont applauds Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones

Meanwhile, another England batter Tammy Beaumont applauded senior cricketers Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones and she also believes that their experience and ability to guide the youngsters in the squad will help the team as well. She further added that the experience of spinner Sophie Ecclestone will be important as well.

“You look at Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones, I think they're really consistent and play the way that the team wants to play, and that allows the young players to go out there, express themselves and take the game on. Someone like Sophie Ecclestone too, she is a massive senior player having featured so many times and is the number one [T20] bowler in the world,” Tammy Beaumont said.

After leading India to a T20 World Cup win in 2024, Rahul Dravid is now looking at a new role in the IPL. Since finishing his time as head coach of the Indian team, Dravid has been linked with several IPL teams.

Rumors of Kolkata Knight Riders role

There were rumors that Dravid might join Kolkata Knight Riders after their mentor Gautam Gambhir, left to take Dravid’s former role with the Indian team. However, recent reports suggest Dravid is now in talks with Rajasthan Royals, his old IPL team.

While Dravid seeks a new challenge, Gambhir has already started his journey as India’s head coach, heading to Sri Lanka with the team. Before leaving, Gambhir acknowledged the big shoes he had to fill after Dravid’s successful tenure.

Talks with Rajasthan Royals

“Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, and an announcement in this regard is round the corner,” Times of India(TOI) quoted a source as saying.

Dravid’s T20 World Cup success

After India’s T20 World Cup victory against South Africa, Dravid joked about being ‘jobless’ and asked reporters if they had any job offers. Given his talent and vast experience, it’s no surprise that IPL teams are eager to have him.

Dravid chose not to continue as India’s head coach because he didn’t want to spend 10 months a year traveling and away from his family. The IPL, however is different. It only requires a 2-3 month commitment, which Dravid might find appealing.

Dravid’s IPL experience

Dravid has previously worked as a mentor and coach for IPL teams. He was the coach of Delhi Daredevils until 2017 when he left due to a ‘conflict of interest.’ Since then, he has coached India’s junior teams and was the head of the National Cricket Academy before taking the India job in 2021.

Now in talks with Rajasthan Royals, it will be interesting to see what role Dravid might take on with the team.

Hardik Pandya has shared that he and his wife Natasa Stankovic are going separate ways after four years together. He made this decision known on July 18, after much talk about it. Hardik announced this on his Instagram posting a joint statement with Natasa.

Rumors started during the 2024 Indian Premier League season, when a post on Reddit noted that Natasa had deleted their photos from her Instagram. At that time, she also removed Hardik’s name from her profile.

Mutual decision and co-parenting

In their statement, they said they’ve decided together to go separate ways and will co-parent their son Agastya.

“After being together for 4 years, Natasa and I have decided to part ways mutually. We tried our best together and gave it our all. We believe this is best for both of us. It was a tough decision, given the joy, respect, and companionship we shared as we grew our family,” Hardik shared on Instagram.

“We are blessed with Agastya, who will continue to be the focus of our lives. We’ll co-parent to ensure his happiness,” he added.

“We kindly ask for your support and understanding to give us privacy during this sensitive time,” Hardik concluded.

Hardik Pandya married Natasa Stankovic on May 31, 2020. They welcomed their child on July 30 of the same year. In February 2023 nearly three years after their wedding they renewed their vows in Udaipur.

On Valentine’s Day, they held a private ceremony in Udaipur with close friends and family, following Christian rituals with a white theme.

After the T20 World Cup in 2024 Pandya mentioned he was going through tough times but hadn’t discussed his troubles publicly. Recently, Pandya was not included in India’s leadership group for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, where they’ll play 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs.

In the past year, Hardik Pandya faced tough times both on and off the field. People booed him during the IPL matches, and Mumbai Indians didn’t perform well under his captaincy. However, he shined in the T20 World Cup.

According to PTI, the International Cricket Council (ICC) encountered a substantial financial setback, losing approximately USD 20 million (Rs 167 crore) while hosting the T20 World Cup 2024 games in the USA.

This issue is expected to be a major discussion point at the ICC Annual Conference starting Friday in Colombo. While it is not on the nine-point agenda of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), it will be addressed as part of a “post-event report.”

Financial losses from the T20 World Cup

A significant portion of the T20 World Cup, including the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in New York, was held in the USA. The financial losses incurred will be scrutinized during the conference. The ICC’s decision to host major matches in the USA aimed to expand cricket’s global reach but resulted in unexpected financial challenges.

Many matches throughout the World Cup were abandoned due to rain, with a significant number of cancellations occurring in the USA due to cyclonic weather in Florida. As a result, the ICC lost ticket revenues from those matches and suffered a substantial loss.

SEE ALSO:All you need to know about Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024: From squad details to  live streaming

Will Jay Shah lead the ICC?

Another critical topic for discussion during the AGM is the potential replacement of ICC chairman Greg Barclay by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. According to PTI, an ICC source mentioned that there is keen interest in Shah’s transition to the leadership of the world body.

“It is not about how but when, as he still has one year left as BCCI secretary before his cooling-off period in the Indian board starts in 2025 as per the constitution,” the source said.

There is speculation about changing the chairmanship term from three terms of two years each to two terms of three years each, which would facilitate Shah’s transition from BCCI to ICC. If Shah emerges as a contender for the ICC role, current chairman Greg Barclay may have to leave his post before the end of his tenure.

During the T20 World Cup 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Virat Kohli how his family felt when he was struggling to score runs in the USA and the West Indies. PM Modi mentioned that the support from those around him was crucial for his match winning performance in the final against South Africa.

PM Modi was candid and engaging as he spoke with the T20 World Cup winning Indian team during a breakfast he hosted in New Delhi on Thursday. He made jokes and detailed observations about India’s campaign in the USA and the West Indies, showing his knowledge of the game and praising Rohit Sharma’s team for their victory.

PM Modi spoke with each player during the breakfast. When he talked to Virat Kohli, he asked about his inconsistent form during the T20 World Cup and pointed out that Kohli scored more runs in the final than in the previous seven matches combined.

“Virat, tell me, the battle this time was full of ups and downs,” PM Modi said.

Virat Kohli reflected on his challenging journey during the T20 World Cup, admitting he felt he wasn’t performing to his potential. He credited the support from the team, especially coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, for helping him deliver the match-winning performance in the final.

“Thank you for inviting us here. I will always remember this day. I couldn’t contribute as much as I wanted. I told Rahul Dravid that I felt I wasn’t doing justice to myself or the team. He reassured me that he believed I would deliver when it mattered,” Kohli said.

Kohli’s initial doubts transformed into confidence

“I also told Rohit Sharma, when we walked out to bat in the final, that I wasn’t confident. But after the first delivery, I told him, ‘What is this game? One day, you feel like you can’t score a run, and the next, everything clicks.’

“When wickets started falling, I wanted to give my all to the team. I was focused and in the zone. I realized that whatever is meant to happen will happen. This victory was destined for us.

“Even towards the end, when the game became tense, we lived every ball. At one point, hope was fading. But when Hardik Pandya took a wicket, everything changed, and we fought back with every delivery,” he added.

“Everyone feels it. You had scored 75 runs in total before the final, and 76 in the final. There’s a reward in having everyone’s support. It becomes a driving force,” PM Modi said, keeping the conversation light. He also asked Virat Kohli how his family reacted when he was struggling to score runs before the big final.

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid is known for his calm and composed nature. However, he was seen jubilantly celebrating not once but a few times following India’s T20 World Cup victory. Notably, India won the T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa recently and they reached home yesterday.

While the team met with PM Narendra Modi at breakfast in Delhi, they had a roadshow scheduled in the evening in Mumbai as well. There all team members and the head coach Rahul Dravid was seen enjoying and celebrating the victory and lifting the trophy as well.

SEE ALSO: ‘It’s coming home’ – Team India to reach New Delhi on Thursday

However, the Indian cricket team had a great campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup as they reached the final by showing their dominance against their opponents in style. However, their dreams were shattered when they lost to Australia in the title clash. The heartbreak left the then-head coach Rahul Dravid thinking over his future as the team head coach but a call from captain Rohit Sharma changed his mindset as well.

Rohit Sharma called Dravid and asked him to continue to do the job while asking him to have another go at a world title alongside him within a few months as well as Rohit had the 2024 T20 World Cup in mind.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue after the 50-Over World Cup, and obviously, there was a great joy of having had a fantastic campaign but also a little bit of disappointment in the final that we could not get over the line,” Rahul Dravid recalled during a felicitation ceremony for Team India at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

“I am so thankful because I had the chance to work with an exceptionally great bunch of boys” – Rahul Dravid

However, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid teamed up and went on to end India’s wait for another ICC trophy with their second-ever T20 World Cup title after they first won it in 2007 as well. Notably, India went unbeaten throughout the campaign.

“For Rohit to pick up the phone and say, ‘Rahul, let’s have one more crack at it in six or eight months’ time. It will be lovely to have a crack at it together’. I am so thankful because I had the chance to work with an exceptionally great bunch of boys. But also experience what I have experienced in Barbados and to experience what I have done here. Truly grateful and probably one of the best phone calls that I have received in my life,” Rahul Dravid concluded.

Seven months ago, Hardik Pandya hobbled off mid-over in a World Cup game against Bangladesh. He was not to be seen after that. In the interim, a lot went on with his career though. The BCCI got strict on contracted players playing domestic Cricket, removing Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer for missing Ranji games despite being fit. Hardik Pandya, who was termed injured missed Ranji games only to claim that he had been fit since January.

On the IPL side, he replaced a Mumbai favorite, Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians. Doing so, he also left the Gujarat Titans after leading them admirably for two years. The move made Gujarat struggle, losing one of the best all-rounders going around in white-ball cricket today. The backlash received was far from normal with Hardik Pandya booed in almost every stadium he went to during the IPL.

See Also: India-W vs South Africa-W Day 3 Stumps: India Women in strong position as South Africa Women trail by 105 runs in their second innings – Cricket Winner

Post 2022, he also had the pressure of the T20I side with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli briefly being phased out. A lot of moments culminated with him getting on the wrong side of the fans. What did Hardik Pandya bring though. The same unique talent as he always does. Explosive but mature hitting with the bat along with pace and extra options with the ball.

With all the hate and criticsm, the discussion arised. Who can replace Hardik Pandya? The answer clearly is yet to be found. While India do have pace bowling all-rounders, they continue to look for one with close to equal skill in both aspects.

After a turbulant few months, Hardik Pandya had his chance to show why he remains a key part of Indian Cricket. He is a fighter, and India has had him at the far end a lot of times, with Hardik Pandya winning close games with both bat and ball. The Final was no different. The game had seemingly drifted away with a run-a-ball needed in the last five overs. Heinrich Klaasen was motering on nicely.

Jasprit Bumrah though came up with all his tricks to pull the game back ever so slightly. He bowled a five run over with South Africa cautious. The over and a small break with Pant needing some work on his knee, India had a brief break in play. Their bowling options were limited for the Final overs with Arshdeep and Bumrah having an over each while Pandya and Jadeja had to share their set.

Pandya was the one and he capitalized on the Bumrah opening. The first ball of the 17th over had him stick to his strong back of the length delivery, pace-off, and Klaasen nicked off. David Miller was still there but Hardik Pandya finished the over really well. Tight lines, his cutters and Bumrah was given a chance to tighten the screws further.

Bumrah and Arshdeep pulled things back well leaving Hardik Pandya with 16 to get in the Final over. 17 years ago, India’s least favoured pacer was the one with the job against Misbah Ul Haq. Now, Hardik Pandya had the ball in hand. There was almost a repeat of 2007 with Hardik Pandya bowling a full-toss like Joginder Sharma who did the same to concede a six in the start of the over.

To Pandya’s fortune though Suryakumar Yadav took arguable the greatest catches under loads of pressure to seal the game. He got the big wicket and in moments the six months of criticsm was forgotten. Hardik Pandya, the one who bowled the FInal over and the one who dismissed Heinrich Klaasen gave India the game.

He collapsed after the Final ball with a lot of emotions on show. After months of struggle, he finally had a moment to rejoice, and also had the love of Rohit Sharma, who embraced Pandya with a lot of joy.

In the T20 World Cup 2024 final, certain moments will etch themselves into their memories the roar of the crowd, the tension in the air, and the heroics that unfolded on the lush green field. Among those heroics, Virat Kohli’s masterful 76, Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling, and Hardik Pandya’s nerve-wracking final over will undoubtedly take center stage. But there’s one player whose contribution often remains a footnote, overshadowed by the spotlight on the star Axar Patel.

Axar’s crucial knock in final

The match began with India losing three wickets for a mere 34 runs during the PowerPlay. The situation was dire, and India needed a circuit-breaker. Enter Axar Patel, the unassuming all-rounder who would soon play a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of the T20 World Cup.

Promoted up the order, Axar walked in with a steely resolve. His 47 off 31 balls was a blend of aggression and calculated risk-taking. While Kohli meticulously accumulated runs through singles and doubles, Axar provided the necessary fireworks. His innings complemented Kohli’s beautifully crafted 76, ensuring India reached a competitive total of 176.

The near-villain moment

Cricket is a game of twists and turns. Axar’s heroics were followed by a moment of heartbreak. In the same match, he bowled the 15th over, an over that would haunt him. Facing the onslaught of South African batsmen Heinrich Klaasen, Axar conceded 24 runs. His non-dominant right hand, which had earlier wielded the bat with precision, now struggled to find its line and length. The villainous over threatened to undo all his hard work.

Axar’s performance ensured favorable entry points for India’s big hitters. Shivam Dube, who had struggled earlier, scored a crucial 27 off 16 balls. Axar’s knock had laid the foundation, and now it was up to others to build upon it.

India eventually clinched victory by seven runs, ending their 13-year wait for a world title. Axar’s near-villain moment was overshadowed by the euphoria of the win, but it remains a testament to the rollercoaster of emotions that cricket can evoke.

In the end, Axar Patel’s journey from batting India out of trouble to conceding 24 runs in that fateful over captured the essence of T20 cricket. Cricket fans will forever remember his near-villain moment, a chapter in the grand saga of India’s T20 World Cup triumph.

Virat Kohli, with an impressive 16 awards from his 125 matches, showcasing his consistent impact on the game. Following closely are Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Sikandar Raza, each recognized for their exceptional contributions with 15 and 14 awards respectively, highlighting their pivotal roles in their respective teams successes.

Kohli, known for rising to big occasions, always delivered when it mattered most in T20 World Cups. Across 6 tournaments, he amassed a record 1292 runs in 35 matches.

His T20 World Cup journey began in 2012, but it was the 2014 edition where Kohli truly shone, carrying India to the final with standout performances. Despite a heartbreaking loss to Sri Lanka in the final, he impressed with 319 runs in 6 matches, showcasing his fearless yet effective batting style.

Kohli’s T20 World Cup legacy: from breakthroughs to heartbreaks

From 2014 to 2016, Kohli’s stature and performances grew. In the 2016 tournament held in India, he played pivotal roles in knockout matches against top teams like Australia and South Africa, leading India to the semi-finals. Despite scoring 89 crucial runs in the semi-final against West Indies, India fell short, but Kohli’s brilliance earned him the Player of the Tournament award for his 273 runs in 5 matches.

Before the 2024 T20 World Cup final, Kohli faced criticism for his form but silenced doubters with a match-winning 76 off 59 balls against South Africa. Despite India losing early wickets, Kohli anchored the innings superbly, showcasing his class and determination in his final T20I match.

Finishing his T20I career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches at a strike rate of 137, Kohli leaves as the format’s second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, trailing only Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

List of players with most POTM awards in T20I

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SEE ALSO: Rahul Dravid gets the perfect send-off from the team, says, “I tried my best whenever I played”