Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the hero of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, his exceptional bowling in the final over turning the tide against South Africa. With the title hanging in the balance, Bumrah delivered a spell that secured India’s victory, leaving the crowd in awe.
In a heartwarming moment, Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, recognized Bumrah’s contribution, calling him a ‘once-in-a-generation’ player. Addressing the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, Kohli said, “Like everyone in the stadium (here), we also felt at one point if it is going to slip away again, but what happened in those (last) five overs was truly, truly special.”
Focusing on Bumrah, who sat among his teammates, Kohli continued, “You know what I’d like everyone to do is applaud a guy who brought us back into games again and again and again in this tournament. What he did in those last five overs, bowling two out of the last five overs, was phenomenal. A huge round of applause for Jasprit Bumrah, please…”
As Bumrah walked to the stage to address the cheering crowd, he was visibly emotional. Reflecting on his journey from playing junior-level cricket at the Wankhede to being celebrated on its grand stage, Bumrah said, “It feels amazing. This ground is really special in my life. As an under-19 kid, I came here to play cricket and what I saw today, I will never forget that.”
Highlighting the team’s spirit and confidence, Bumrah added, “The confidence that we have to take the game by the neck and pull us out of trouble is special. Our aim is to take Indian cricket forward. This World Cup gives us the motivation to go ahead and do it again…”
Throughout the tournament, Bumrah was accompanied by his wife and infant son. Overwhelmed with emotion, he shared his heartfelt reaction to seeing his son after the final victory. “Seeing my son, I started crying. I never usually cry after games, but my son was there to see me winning the World Cup and there are no words for that,” Bumrah said, met with cheers from the crowd.
