Hearty congratulations to the Indian team. Their indomitable spirit proved decisive in the end. Not having a reputation to live up to was the blessing in disguise. M.S. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh did not rise to expectations in the final and yet India pulled it off thanks to players accepting responsibility and not getting overawed by the big stage.

The decisive factor was the fearless approach from a bunch of youngsters in a format that is still foreign to many. Both teams made the final a memorable affair. The one making the elementary error under pressure was likely to lose, as it happened when the usually cool and collected Misbah-ul-Haq played the slog flip shot. His innings may have made all the difference between one nation rejoicing and another left in despair. Actually, there was not much to choose between the two sides.

There were many positives India can draw from this campaign, the foremost being the captaincy of Dhoni who remained unruffled throughout the championship. His calming influence was the fulcrum around which the Indian team revolved. Each win was constructed by the nucleus of the side, with the team effort helping to shatter many myths, the first of course being that some are indispensable. If there was one player unable to deliver under pressure, there were two putting their hands up to chip in.

T20 cricket has caught the imagination of the public and this win will, I hope, herald a new era. Just as there were one-day specialists trying to make a mark in the early90’s, there will be a set of players who will train their thoughts and mind entirely to suit the demands of this format.

By winning the toss, Dhoni did a huge favour to his side. The pressure of an ICC World Twenty20 final, which too against Pakistan would have made any target an uphill task for India. Gautam Gambhir who received so much flak for not coming good against quality opposition silenced his critics with a knock that gave his team a great chance to fight. His shot selection was sublime and effective at the same time. Rohit Sharma was a revelation; the youngster came good whenever an opportunity presented itself.

The target was never going to be tough if Pakistan resorted to percentage cricket but then calmness is never easily achieved in an India-Pakistan clash. The pressure gets to you at some point and the mistakes start creeping in. Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik went into a shell and handed the match to India.

Misbah is a player who takes calculated risks and believes in the theory the match is not over until the last ball. It reminded me of the great Javed Miandad who pulled the rug out from under our feet on numerous occasions.

R.P. Singh delivered when it mattered and so did Irfan Pathan with his canny slow cutters against which the entire pace and power had to be generated by the batsmen. Joginder and the Pathan siblings provided batsmen with no pace to strike.

It was a tactical ploy that worked on a wicket that slowed down a touch towards the end of the Pakistan innings.

Hearty congratulations to the Indian team. Their indomitable spirit proved decisive in the end. Not having a reputation to live up to was the blessing in disguise. M.S. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh did not rise to expectations in the final and yet India pulled it off thanks to players accepting responsibility and not getting overawed by the big stage.

The decisive factor was the fearless approach from a bunch of youngsters in a format that is still foreign to many. Both teams made the final a memorable affair. The one making the elementary error under pressure was likely to lose, as it happened when the usually cool and collected Misbah-ul-Haq played the slog flip shot. His innings may have made all the difference between one nation rejoicing and another left in despair. Actually, there was not much to choose between the two sides.

There were many positives India can draw from this campaign, the foremost being the captaincy of Dhoni who remained unruffled throughout the championship. His calming influence was the fulcrum around which the Indian team revolved. Each win was constructed by the nucleus of the side, with the team effort helping to shatter many myths, the first of course being that some are indispensable. If there was one player unable to deliver under pressure, there were two putting their hands up to chip in.

T20 cricket has caught the imagination of the public and this win will, I hope, herald a new era. Just as there were one-day specialists trying to make a mark in the early90’s, there will be a set of players who will train their thoughts and mind entirely to suit the demands of this format.

By winning the toss, Dhoni did a huge favour to his side. The pressure of an ICC World Twenty20 final, which too against Pakistan would have made any target an uphill task for India. Gautam Gambhir who received so much flak for not coming good against quality opposition silenced his critics with a knock that gave his team a great chance to fight. His shot selection was sublime and effective at the same time. Rohit Sharma was a revelation; the youngster came good whenever an opportunity presented itself.

The target was never going to be tough if Pakistan resorted to percentage cricket but then calmness is never easily achieved in an India-Pakistan clash. The pressure gets to you at some point and the mistakes start creeping in. Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik went into a shell and handed the match to India.

Misbah is a player who takes calculated risks and believes in the theory the match is not over until the last ball. It reminded me of the great Javed Miandad who pulled the rug out from under our feet on numerous occasions.

R.P. Singh delivered when it mattered and so did Irfan Pathan with his canny slow cutters against which the entire pace and power had to be generated by the batsmen. Joginder and the Pathan siblings provided batsmen with no pace to strike.

It was a tactical ploy that worked on a wicket that slowed down a touch towards the end of the Pakistan innings.