No side had ever defended the T20 World Cup title. Suryakumar Yadav’s boys did it first. At home, no less. Here is TOI’s report card of the 15 men who made it happen.GAUTAM GAMBHIR (COACH) – 9/10Two consecutive ICC trophies. The only man in history to win a T20 World Cup as player and coach. His biggest contribution was framing the team’s ideology to “not playing for milestones”. He backed Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy through their lean phase.JASPRIT BUMRAH – 10/10There is a reason Suryakumar Yadav called him a “national treasure”. India’s cheat code! Named Player of the Match in the final for figures of 4/15. Finished joint top wickettaker with 14 scalps and economy of 6.21 — remarkable on surfaces where everyone else bled runs. In the semifinal, he gave away just 14 runs across two overs in the death when England needed 69 off the last five overs.M: 8 | W: 14 | ER: 6.21 | Ave: 12.42 | SR: 12.00
SANJU SAMSON – 10/10When he got his chance, he dismantled the opposition bowling, narratives against him, and years of heartbreak. He kicked off his scoring spree with an unbeaten 97 against West Indies in a virtual quarterfinal, then 89 against England in the semifinal, and another 89 in the final — becoming only the second batter to score three consecutive 80-plus scores at a T20 World Cup. His 89 was the highest individual score in a men’s T20 World Cup final. Was fittingly named Player of the Tournament.M: 5 | R: 321 | SR: 199.37 | Ave: 80.25 | 50s: 3ISHAN KISHAN – 9/10The comeback stories at this World Cup had a recurring theme. People who had been written off, coming back with a bang. His redemption arc was complete after smashing 54 off 25 in the final. His best performance came against Pakistan, leading the Indian charge with 77 off 40. He finished as the fourth-highest runscorer in the tournament.M: 9 | R: 317 | SR: 193.29 | Ave: 35.22 | 50s: 3HARDIK PANDYA – 8.5/10A reliable, clutch professional who showed up in the moments that mattered. Scored a halfcentury each against Namibia and Zimbabwe, but his best came in the semifinal against England, where he scored a rapid 27 off 12 that powered India to a 250-plus total. With the ball, his best came against Pakistan (2/16). In the semifinal, he bowled the 19th over for just nine runs, claiming 2/38 to halt England.M: 9 | R: 217 | SR: 160.74 | Ave: 27.12 | 50s: 2 Wkts: 9 | ER: 8.81 | BB: 2/16SHIVAM DUBE – 8/10Bailed India out of tough situations while batting down the order. His 31-ball 65 against the Netherlands helped India to 193 after struggling initially. In the final, he scored 24 runs in the final over, taking India to 255. Even in the semis against England, he played a clutch knock, hitting 43 off 25 and taking down the wily Adil Rashid.M: 9 | R: 235 | SR: 169.06 | Ave: 39.16 | 50s: 1 Wkts: 5 | ER: 14.12 | BB: 2/35AXAR PATEL – 8/10While he was not required with the bat, he came to the fore with the ball taking 11 wickets, often bowling clutch overs. In the final, he took 3/27. In the semis, two stunning catches from him changed the game entirely.M: 7 | R: 16 | SR: 106.66 | Ave: 5.33 | 50s: 0
India head coach Gautam Gambhir with captain Suryakumar Yadav. (Pic credit: BCCI)
SURYAKUMAR YADAV (CAPTAIN) – 7.5/10He led with clarity, instinct and energy. He read the game well and wasn’t afraid to back his bowlers or shuffle the batting order under pressure. But with the bat, he looked a shadow of his peak self. Scored a solitary half-century—an unbeaten 84 off 49 against USA—that saved India the early blushes.M: 9 | R: 242 | SR: 136.72 | Ave: 30.25 | 50s: 1TILAK VARMA – 7.5/10He started at No.3 but it didn’t work. Dropped down to the middle-order and suddenly he looked a different batter. A 16-ball unbeaten 44 against Zimbabwe stood out, a 15-ball 27 against Windies, and a 7-ball 21 against England in the semis, where he smashed three sixes off Jofra Archer, underscored his importance.Inns: 9 | Runs: 207 | SR: 154.47 | Ave: 29.57 | 50s: 0ARSHDEEP SINGH – 7.5/10On the high-scoring surfaces, he couldn’t quite replicate his 2024 heroics but still managed crucial performances in the semifinal against England and in the Super Eight game against Zimbabwe. The side trusted him throughout, and more often than not, he repaid that trust.M: 8 | W: 9 | ER: 8.46 | Ave: 28.22 | SR: 20 | BB: 2/24VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY – 7/10I t was a tournament of two halves. He took nine wickets in the group stage and bowled economically, but across the next five matches, he leaked runs at 11.84, picking up just five more wickets. But 14 wickets at a World Cup is not bad.M: 9 | W: 14 | ER: 9.25 | Ave: 20.50 | SR: 13.20 | BB: 3/7KULDEEP YADAV – 7/10Played just one match. Against Pakistan in Colombo, he delivered a tight three-over spell, taking 1/14. He watched the rest of the tournament from the dugout.M: 1 | W: 1 | ER: 4.66 | Ave: 14 | SR: 18 | BB: 1/14MOHAMMED SIRAJ – 7/10Called into the squad as a last-minute replacement for Harshit Rana, he played only the opening match against the USA and walked away with figures of 3/29, stepping in for Bumrah who was ill.M: 1 | W: 3 | ER: 7.25 | Ave: 9.66 | SR: 8 | BB: 3/29ABHISHEK SHARMA – 6/10This was supposed to be his World Cup but lived on the edge of a cliff for seven matches, collecting three ducks in his first three innings. Opposition off-spinners tied him in knots. There was noise about dropping him for the final. He silenced it most decisively, scoring the fastest half-century of the tournament off just 18 balls.M: 8 | R: 141 | SR: 158.42 | Ave: 17.62 | 50s: 2RINKU SINGH – 5/10His tournament was truncated and difficult. Batting in cameo roles that didn’t suit him, he lost his place in the XI by the business end. But every Indian fielding highlight featured him; he contributed as a substitute fielder and remained a warm presence in what was clearly a painful month, having lost his father midway through the tournament.M: 5 | R: 24 | SR: 82.75 | Ave: 8.00 | 50s: 0WASHINGTON SUNDAR – 5/10He featured in just two games, registering 0/36 against the Netherlands and 0/17 against South Africa with the ball. In the one innings he batted against the Proteas, he scored just 11 runs. He was the squad’s depth, used as cover.M: 2 | R: 11 | SR: 100.00 | Ave: 11.00 | 50s: 0 Wkts: 0 | ER: 8.83
