Bhubaneswar, Mar 9: It’s been more than two years, since the dreams of 1.4 billion people shattered, hearts broke, and cheers turned into silence. The date - November 19, 2023 - what was meant to be a coronation became a scar, etching itself into memory, haunting players and fans alike, especially those who witnessed the heartbreak live at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

 

Despite the fact that we have won ICC T20 World Cup 2024, ICC Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup 2026 since then, the haunting memory of that night in 2023 refuses to fade. The reason lies in the format itself. The 50-over World Cup is regarded as the toughest challenge in cricket - not only because of its length and demands, but also because it comes once every four years, magnifying the stakes. Yet, there is a silver lining: India’s recent string of victories in ICC tournaments across formats has restored belief.

 

So what truly changed after November 19, 2023? Why, despite all the success in ICC tournaments, the haunting memories of 2023 still linger? The reasons, I believe, are twofold - first it was a tournament at home, and the second being the team’s sheer dominance throughout the tournament had built an aura of inevitability, only for it to collapse in the final.

Also Read: India ‘Beat History, Repeat History’ as Men in Blue Claim Record 3rd ICC T20 World Cup Title

Let’s just revisit 2023. India marched into the World Cup final on the back of 10 consecutive victories, a streak that made them look unstoppable. Players seemed possessed, performing at the peak of their powers. The nation braced itself for a crowning moment. Yet, what unfolded at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was something no one had foreseen.

 

Prior to the final, at the pre-match press conference, Australian skipper Pat Cummins had said: “We know it’s going to be a packed house. There’s going to be 1,30,000 fans here supporting India. It can be an intimidating prospect at the best of times. The crowd’s obviously going to be very one-sided but, in sport there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent and that’s the aim for us.” And, they did exactly that. They silenced not only those 1,30,000 at the venue, but the entire nation.

 

The defeat, the heartbreak, the humiliation on home soil sparked something profound - it lit a fire, a burning desire to rule world cricket. From that moment, Indian teams across every level and format began rewriting history. The senior men’s side, the senior women’s squad, the U19s, and even the blind women’s team all tasted global success. What once felt like despair transformed into a collective hunger, driving Indian cricket to heights never imagined before.

 
Beginning of New Era!

India entered the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 (June 1-29, 2024), co-hosted by the West Indies and USA, as one of the favourites under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Their campaign lived up to expectations, culminating in a final showdown against South Africa. Batting first, India posted 176/7, powered by Virat Kohli’s crucial 76, Axar Patel’s 47, and Shivam Dube’s quickfire 26. Kohli, who had struggled throughout the tournament, rose to the occasion when it mattered most.

 

Chasing, South Africa seemed destined for glory, needing just 30 runs off 30 balls with Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller well set. The mood among Indian fans was grim until Rishabh Pant cleverly disrupted play by faking a knee injury - later admitting it was a tactic to break momentum. The ploy worked: Klaasen fell immediately after resumption, and with 16 required off the final over, Suryakumar Yadav took a blinder of a catch sent Miller back to the dugout. And the rest is history.

Carrying the Momentum

India carried the momentum into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 (Feb 19-Mar 9, 2025), which was played in hybrid model with Pakistan playing the host. India played all their matches in Dubai and comfortably won the title… undefeated, just like they did in 2024 T20 World Cup.

Creating History

In 2026, India entered the T20 World Cup as overwhelming favourites, riding high on form and flair under new captain Suryakumar Yadav. Yet, the campaign faltered early, with inconsistent performances. By the time the Super 8 match between India and South Africa ended, everyone had one say: “Don’t think India are favourites for the title.”

The turning point came when Sanju Samson was drafted into the XI. His unbeaten 97 in a must-win - virtual quarterfinal - clash against West Indies propelled India into the semifinals. Samson followed up with a brilliant 89 against England, while Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma added crucial runs to post a towering 253/7. Jasprit Bumrah’s masterful bowling then sealed India’s passage to the final, reigniting belief in their championship credentials.

Also Read: Gambhir Responds to Dhoni’s ‘Coach Sahab, Smile Looks Great on You’ Comment

Then came the D-Day. The stage was set for a clash of giants - India versus New Zealand, with pride, legacy, and silverware on the line. India rose to the occasion, delivering a performance that was nearly flawless despite a few fielding lapses, dropped chances, and late-innings batting jitters. Sanju once again lit up the scoreboard with a commanding 89, supported by Ishan Kishan’s fiery 54. Abhishek Sharma, who had struggled throughout the tournament, chose the perfect moment to silence critics with a blistering 21-ball 52 - reminiscent of Kohli’s pivotal knock in the 2024 edition.

 
When the ball was handed over, Jasprit Bumrah (4/15) and Axar Patel (3/27) unleashed relentless spells, masking the struggles of their fellow bowlers and tightening India’s grip on the contest.

 
With this, they “beat history, repeated history”! No… they created history. They became:

• First team to clinch a third ICC T20 World Cup title.
• First team to win back-to-back ICC T20 World Cups.
• First team to win ICC T20 World Cup as a host.
• First team to score three 250+ scores in a single edition of T20 WC.

 
More Records

• India’s 255/5 in the final is the highest in a knockout (or playoff) match in T20 WCs.
• India defeated New Zealand for the first time in T20 WCs after three defeats (2007, 2016 & 2021).
• Abhishek Sharma’s 18-ball half-century is the fastest in a T20 WC knockout game.
• Sanju Samson’s 89 is the highest individual score in a T20 WC final.
• India’s Powerplay score of 92/0 is the joint-highest by any team in the men’s T20 World Cup, equalling West Indies’ 92/1 vs Afghanistan in 2024.
• Samson’s 321 runs in 2026 edition is the most by an Indian batter in a men’s T20 WC, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 319 in 2014.
• Samson’s 24 sixes are the most by a player in a single edition of T20 WC.

 
A Glance at other Success stories since 2023 Heartbreak

Maiden Glory: The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team clinched the ICC Women’s World Cup (Sept 30-Nov 2, 2025) after a thrilling win over South Africa in Navi Mumbai. Echoing India’s 2011 triumph, where MS Dhoni hit the winning runs, Harmanpreet sealed 2025 glory with a decisive catch that sparked nationwide celebrations. Deepti Sharma shone as Player of the Tournament, but Shafali Verma proved the real X-factor. Drafted in after Pratika Rawal’s injury, she starred in the final, smashing 87 off 78 balls in the decider to help India post 298/7.

Beating All Odds: India clinched the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup (Nov 11-23, 2025) title in Sri Lanka, defeating Nepal by seven wickets in the final. The eves defeated Sri Lanka, Australia, Nepal, USA and Pakistan in the league phase, before another win over the Australians in the semifinal.

Juniors Reign Supreme: Team India, led by Niki Prasad, delivered a dominant performance to outwit South Africa in Kuala Lumpur and secure the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2025 (Jan 18-Feb 2, 2025) title for the second successive time.

The men’s side, led by Ayush Mhatre, claimed a record extending sixth ICC Men’s U19 T20 World Cup (Jan 15-Feb 6, 2026) title beating England by a huge margin of 100 runs. Vaibhav Suryavanshi was adjudged Player of the Tournament for his 439 runs in the competition.

What Future Holds?

Australia once stood as the undisputed giant of world cricket, striking fear into opponents and collecting ICC trophies with remarkable ease. Today, that aura of dominance seems to have shifted toward India, particularly in the limited-overs formats. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, the question remains: will India sustain their supremacy, or will the tide turn once again? Only time will reveal the answer.