Cricket

South Africa's T20 World Cup triumph marks a watershed moment in their cricketing history, shedding the long-held tag of "chokers" that has haunted them in major tournaments.For decades, the Proteas have endured a string of heartbreaking defeats in knockout matches, leaving a trail of disappointment and shattered dreams. From the rain-affected 1992 ODI World Cup semifinal to the agonizing tie in the 1999 edition, South Africa's inability to perform under pressure became a recurring theme.The 2007 ODI World Cup semifinal against Australia was particularly devastating, as a star-studded South African lineup was dismissed for a paltry 149. The 2011 ODI World Cup quarterfinal against New Zealand and the 2013 Champions Trophy semifinal against England further cemented their reputation as underachievers.However, the current Proteas team, led by Temba Bavuma, has broken the cycle of disappointment. Their unbeaten run to the T20 World Cup final in Trinidad is a testament to their resilience and determination.The victory over Afghanistan in the semifinals was a cathartic moment for South African cricket. It erased years of heartache and proved that the Proteas could overcome their past demons.The key to South Africa's success in this tournament has been their collective spirit and unwavering belief. They have played as a unit, with each player contributing to the team's success.Quinton de Kock's explosive batting, Aiden Markram's consistency, and David Miller's finishing prowess have been crucial. The bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, has been equally impressive, providing the necessary control and wickets.South Africa's triumph is a reminder that even the most persistent failures can be overcome with hard work, determination, and a belief in oneself. It is a victory not only for the current team but for all South African cricket fans who have endured years of disappointment.

India's captain Rohit Sharma delivered a masterful performance, leading his team to a decisive 24-run victory over Australia in their final Super Eights match of the T20 World Cup. The triumph secured India's place in the semifinals, where they will face defending champions England.Rohit's innings was a symphony of power and finesse, as he amassed 92 runs off just 41 deliveries. He combined brute force with elegant strokeplay, dispatching the Australian bowlers to all corners of the ground. His knock propelled India to a formidable total of 205 for five.In response, Australia showed their fighting spirit, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head leading the charge. Marsh struck 37 off 28 balls, while Head played a blinder, scoring 76 off 43 deliveries. However, the Indian bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav (2/24), Jasprit Bumrah (1/29), and Arshdeep Singh (3/37), kept the Australians at bay.Rohit's intent was clear from the outset. He emphasized the importance of putting pressure on the bowlers and scoring big totals. He stated, "I told you that 50s and 100s don't matter to me. Need to put the bowlers under pressure, and you need big scores for that."The Indian captain's approach paid dividends, as he targeted all areas of the field and kept the Australian bowlers guessing. His innings included several memorable shots, such as a down-on-one-knee six over deep mid-wicket off Pat Cummins.Despite Australia's valiant effort in the chase, they ultimately fell short, finishing on 181 for seven. India's victory was a testament to their dominance in the Super Eights, where they finished as group toppers with three wins in as many games.

South Africa's maiden T20 World Cup final appearance is within reach after their emphatic nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the first semifinal. Skipper Aiden Markram urged his team to remain composed and fearless ahead of the title clash.Markram hailed his bowlers for restricting Afghanistan to a paltry 56 runs. "We were brilliant with the ball, got it in the right areas and kept it really simple," he said. "The bowlers have been incredible for us."The batting, however, faced some challenges on a pitch offering pronounced seam movement. "It was challenging with the bat, as no batter is going to lie and tell you it was easy out there," Markram admitted. "We had a bit of luck and then got a bit of a partnership."Markram expressed relief at the comfortable victory. "We have had a few close games and a few people back home would have woken up early with more grey hairs. Glad today was a bit more comforting," he added.Player of the match Marco Jansen, who claimed three early wickets, emphasized their focus on accuracy. "Awesome feeling. The guys played really well, we executed perfectly," he said. "We just wanted to stick to our plan, bowl good lengths and see how the wicket reacts."Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan expressed disappointment but acknowledged the team's progress. "It was tough for us as a team. We might have done better but the conditions didn't allow us to do what we wanted," he said. "That's how T20 cricket is, you need to be ready for all conditions."Khan believes the tournament has been a valuable learning experience for his side. "It is just the beginning for us, we have the confidence and belief to beat any side," he said. "We just need to keep our processes. This has been a great learning experience for us."

Hardik Pandya's resurgence as an all-rounder for India in the T20 World Cup 2024 has silenced critics who questioned his place in the team. After a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign and fitness struggles, Pandya has rediscovered his form, delivering crucial performances for India.Ahead of India's match against Australia, Pandya hit back at critics who doubted his all-round abilities. "I've bowled for every team. It's become a topic of discussion," he said. "I need to work hard to fire on all cylinders. It gives me extra opportunity to contribute and lifts my confidence."In India's victory over Bangladesh, Pandya was named Player of the Match for his half-century and wicket. He acknowledged the team's unity and execution of plans. "We have played really good cricket," he said. "We can get better in some areas, but we are looking good."Pandya's return to form is a testament to his hard work and determination. Despite a serious injury, he remained focused on his recovery. "I wanted to come back, but God had other plans," he said. "Luck comes to people who work hard."India's final Super 8 match against Australia will be a crucial test for Pandya and the team. If they can maintain their momentum, they have a strong chance of reaching the semifinals. Pandya's all-round contributions will be vital to India's success.

India's legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has ignited a fresh debate between current skipper Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli. Dev praised Sharma's leadership style, highlighting his ability to recognize his limitations and maintain team harmony.Ahead of India's crucial T20 World Cup semi-final against England, Dev drew comparisons between the two players. He noted that Sharma, unlike Kohli, remains composed and focused on his strengths. "He knows his limitations, but within those limitations, he performs the best," Dev said.Dev also commended Sharma's ability to foster a positive team environment. "A big tick in favor of Rohit Sharma is that he keeps the entire team happy," he said. "There are many great players who play for themselves, take the captaincy for themselves, but not him."Dev's comments sparked mixed reactions on social media. Some fans expressed concern that the "Virat vs Rohit" debate could hinder India's progress in the tournament. Others defended Dev's assessment, arguing that Sharma's leadership style is more conducive to team success.Sharma enters the semi-final against England in impressive form, having scored a blistering 92 off 41 balls against Australia in the Super 8 stage. Kohli, on the other hand, has struggled for runs, scoring only 66 in six innings.India will face England in the semi-final on June 27, hoping to avenge their 10-wicket defeat in the 2022 T20 World Cup final. The match will be played at Guyana's Providence Stadium.

The highly anticipated first semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup between South Africa and Afghanistan commenced with a thrilling start. Afghanistan, after winning the toss, opted to bat first on a fresh pitch that promised both spin and seam.South Africa's Marco Jansen struck early, dismissing the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over. However, Gulbadin Naib responded with a crisp boundary off Jansen, followed by a four off Keshav Maharaj. Ibrahim Zadran also contributed with a boundary, giving Afghanistan a solid start.Maharaj, introduced into the attack, bowled with accuracy, keeping the Afghan batters in check. Naib, however, continued to impress, pulling a boundary through mid-on. Zadran also showed his class, lofting Maharaj over mid-on for another four.As the innings progressed, Afghanistan's middle order struggled to find momentum. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi were dismissed cheaply, leaving the onus on the lower order. Karim Janat and Rashid Khan provided some resistance, but South Africa's bowlers maintained their discipline.In the end, Afghanistan managed to post a respectable total of 144/8, with Naib top-scoring with 35 runs. Jansen was the pick of the South African bowlers, claiming 3/25, while Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada chipped in with two wickets each.South Africa, in response, will be confident of chasing down the target, given their impressive batting lineup. However, Afghanistan's spinners, led by Rashid Khan, will pose a significant threat. The match promises to be a close and exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a place in the final.

The T20 World Cup semi-finals are set to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, with the first semi-final in Trinidad and the second in Guyana. However, the lack of a reserve day for the second semi-final has raised concerns about the fairness of the tournament.The ICC has allocated a reserve day for the first semi-final but not for the second, which has caused an outcry in the media. The reason for this is that there is only one day's gap between the second semi-final and the final in Barbados, unlike the first semi-final. To give the second finalists enough time to rest between matches, it has been decided to not have a reserve day.However, this decision has been met with criticism, as it means that the second semi-final could be washed out due to rain, while the first semi-final would have the luxury of a reserve day. The ICC has defended its decision, saying that the extra time available for both matches is actually the same: 250 minutes.For the first semi-final, the match will start losing overs if the 8.30pm start-time is delayed for more than an hour. If it still goes into the reserve day, a further 190 minutes have been allocated from 2pm onwards, but the match will continue from where it was left off.For the second semi-final, the overs will start being reduced only at approximately 2.40pm: 250 minutes after the scheduled start time of 10.30am. This gives rise to a scenario in which the match could start as a 20-over affair at 2.40pm, only for the the side batting first to be midway through their overs when the rain returns, thereby causing the match to be washed out as a no-result.If the ICC had made every effort to complete the second semi-final by 2.40pm and only gone into extra time if a 10-over game was not possible until such time, we would have had nearly identical playing conditions for both matches.Another concern is that India knew before the other teams where they would be playing their semi-final. This is because India were scheduled to play their semi-final in Guyana no matter where they finished in their group because that semi-final starts at 10.30am, which is 8pm back in India. Even though South Africa and England knew they had qualified several hours earlier, they had to wait for India's status as winners of Group 1 to be resolved before they could travel to their venues.However, these playing conditions were signed off by every participating board well before the World Cup started.

Afghanistan's historic triumph in the T20 World Cup has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Led by the enigmatic Rashid Khan, the Afghan team has defied all odds to reach the semi-finals for the first time ever.Their thrilling victory over Bangladesh in the final Super 8s match was a testament to their resilience and determination. Despite the rain-affected second innings, Afghanistan's bowlers, spearheaded by Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq, defended the modest target of 115 with aplomb.Khan's role in Afghanistan's success cannot be overstated. Not only did he bamboozle Australian batters with his deceptive deliveries, but he also engaged in some light-hearted banter with Indian captain Rohit Sharma. After both teams advanced to the semi-finals, Khan took to social media to share a photo with Sharma, playfully referring to him as "My friend from Mumbai."Afghanistan's journey to the semi-finals has been nothing short of remarkable. They stunned T20I giants New Zealand and Australia in the group stage, showcasing their ability to compete with the best in the world.Their victory over Bangladesh not only secured their place in the last four but also eliminated Australia from the tournament. The Aussies, who were considered one of the favorites, were left to rue their missed opportunities.Afghanistan's success is a testament to the growing strength of cricket in non-traditional nations. Their performance has inspired countless young players around the world and has proven that anything is possible with hard work and determination.As they prepare for the semi-finals, Afghanistan will be buoyed by the support of their passionate fans. They will face a formidable opponent in either India or England, but they have shown that they are capable of overcoming any challenge.

Yuvraj Singh's iconic six sixes against England pacer Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup remain etched in the annals of cricket history. The former India all-rounder's blistering assault on Broad, who was at the peak of his powers, is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable feats in the sport.Recalling the epic moment in a recent interview with ICC, Yuvraj revealed that he was determined to make an impact after a couple of disappointing innings. "I was very keen to get out there and get some big hits and some kind of form," he said.The 19th over of India's innings proved to be the turning point. After Andrew Flintoff bowled two good deliveries, Yuvraj took a single off the last ball of the 18th over. An exchange of words between the two players further fueled Yuvraj's determination."I was furious. I just wanted to hit every ball out of the ground," Yuvraj recalled. The first ball of the 19th over sailed over the boundary, and Yuvraj's confidence soared.When asked if he had six sixes in mind after hitting four, Yuvraj revealed that he was motivated by a desire to avenge the five sixes he had conceded to Dimitri Mascarenhas in the final over of the 2007 Oval ODI."I had been in this place and getting hit for 5 sixes is not a good feeling," he said. "I knew where Broad was going to bowl. I was ready that it was going to be a full yorker towards my legs, and I just wanted to get my bat on it."Despite the pressure of the situation, Yuvraj remained calm and collected. "I was not nervous at all," he said. "He (Broad) was the one who was nervous."Yuvraj's final six, which sealed the iconic moment, was met with a smile on his face. "That smile was for Dimitri," he said.The innings ended with Yuvraj being caught at long-on off the penultimate delivery, but his 58 runs from 16 balls had already secured India a 20-run victory."This was one of the iconic moments and I cherish it," Yuvraj concluded. "But if we wouldn't have won the World Cup, it wouldn’t have been that special I guess."