The wait is over, the party’s on in the streets of India! After years of near misses and heartbreaks, the Men in Blue have finally scaled the T20 World Cup peak. The victory, a nail-biting last-over finish against a spirited South African side, was pure cricketing theatre. But before the confetti settles, let’s turn our attention to the architects of this triumph. Who were the standout performers, the players who wrote their names in T20 World Cup folklore? We select our Best XI of the tournament, a team that certainly made a huge impact throughout the competition.
Best XI of T20 World Cup 2024
| S No. | Player | Runs/Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rohit Sharma (IND) (C) | 257 runs |
| 2. | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) (WK) | 281 runs |
| 3. | Andries Gous (USA) | 219 runs |
| 4. | Heinrich Klaasen (SA) | 190 runs |
| 5. | Marcus Stoinis (AUS) | 169 runs / 10 wickets |
| 6. | Hardik Pandya (IND) | 144 runs / 11 wickets |
| 7. | Axar Patel (IND) | 92 runs / 9 wickets |
| 8. | Rashid Khan (AFG) | 57 runs / 14 wickets |
| 9. | Jasprit Bumrah (IND) | 15 wickets |
| 10. | Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG) | 17 wickets |
| 11. | Anrich Nortje (SA) | 15 wickets |
Top-order: Rohit Sharma, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Andries Gous
Leading the charge is the indomitable Rohit Sharma. His captaincy cool guided India through the tournament. His 257 runs provided a solid foundation at the top. Just like the 2023 ODI World Cup, it was Hitman’s supreme strike rate (156) that always set platforms for India.
Alongside him is a surprise package – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who will also don the keeping duties for this team. The Afghan opener exploded with a staggering 281 runs, his aggressive strokeplay leaving bowlers bewildered. He ended up as the highest run-getter!
Completing the trio is an associate team player, Andries Gous. The South Africa-turned-American opener, with his 219 runs, announced himself on the world stage. While the likes of Aaron Jones and Nitish Kumar were inconsistent, Gous proved to be a threat in most of USA matches.
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Middle-order & All-rounders: Klaasen, Stoinis, Pandya, Axar
The middle order and all-rounders bring firepower and balance to this dream team. Heinrich Klaasen, the man who almost snatched victory from India’s grasp in the final, finds a place here with his 190 runs. He also played key innings in low-scoring clashes against USA and Bangladesh. Marcus Stoinis, the ever-reliable Australian, chipped in with a well-rounded performance of 169 runs and 10 wickets.
Hardik Pandya’s story is one of redemption – his 144 runs and 11 wickets showcase his all-round brilliance. It was fitting that Rohit Sharma entrusted Pandya with the responsibility of bowling the last over in the final, where Pandya duly fulfilled his duties.
The silent assassin, Axar Patel , emerged as a crucial cog with his pin-point bowling (9 wickets) and handy 92 runs, rescuing India from precarious situations. Against Pakistan, he bailed India out, against England, he orchestrated a superb defense. However, in the all-important final, the southpaw stitched a match-changing partnership with Virat Kohli.
Bowlers: Rashid, Bumrah, Farooqi & Nortje
The bowling attack of this Best XI is a nightmare for any batter. Leading the charge is the irrepressible Rashid Khan. His miserly economy (6.17) and ability to pick up crucial wickets (14) at a brilliant average of 12.8 make him a true game-changer. Apart from this, his leadership skills were on point as well, taking Afghanistan to their first-ever World Cup semi-final.
Partnering him is the world’s greatest bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. Words seem inadequate to describe his brilliance – his 15 wickets and an economy rate of a staggering 4.17 (the best ever in a T20 World Cup) speak volumes. It was his spell in the death over, that literally spun the momentum in India’s favor in the final.
Joining this spin-pace duo is the young Afghan left-arm quick, Fazalhaq Farooqi. His raw pace and knack for picking up wickets (17) make him a potent weapon and the joint-highest wicket-taker. Completing the attack is the South African express, Anrich Nortje. His express pace rattled batters throughout the tournament, his 15 wickets a testament to his wicket-taking prowess. Despite having an awful IPL 2024, Nortje came back strongly and even gave away runs at a phenomenal economy rate of 5.74.
Editors pick
