When ‘rebels’ West Indies crowned themselves champs

The team that almost didn’t make it, another that found hell at Eden for a second final, and the host side that could not make a miracle escape to count ~ the 2016 T20 World Cup was strewn with enough drama until the last shot settled the triumph.

- N Ananthanarayanan

India, marshaled by their masterful leader MS Dhoni were looking for a second World Cup at home in five years, having been crowned ODI champions under him in 2011 after 28 years. But two low-scoring games followed: the opening game against New Zealand ended in a 47-run defeat and the next, against Pakistan, was a comfortable win.

However, Bangladesh almost torpedoed their semifinal hopes in a thriller of a Super 10 league game in Bengaluru. Having restricted India to 146/7 on a surprisingly tacky M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch, Bangladesh were coasting to victory. Needing Il runs from the last over with the odds heavily stacked against India, Mushfiqur Rahim seemed to have almost sealed it when he hit Hardik Pandya, who was bowling the 20th over, for back-to-back fours.

Mushfiq pumped his fist in celebration after that second boundary, a scoop over Dhoni, and it looked certain as two runs were needed off three balls. But that is where the script went awry. The seasoned batter, eager to win it with a big hit, spooned a catch to square leg. With two to get off two, Mahmudullah took the full toss bait, and Ravindra Jadeja moved beautifully to take the catch.