India, March 2 -- Given the sheer quality of resources India had at their disposal over the years, waiting 16 years for a T20 World Cup trophy - thanks largely to their predilection for a safety-first approach - was an anomaly waiting to be addressed. Denied by an immaculate Sri Lankan attack in the 2014 final, bludgeoned by raw Caribbean power in the 2016 semis, and stunned by a fearless English team in the 2022 last-four, India finally won their second T20 World Cup in 2024 in Bridgetown.

The triumph signalled India's long overdue reconciliation with the evolving concept of T20 batting, trading inhibition for ambition and shunning years of conservatism. Led superbly by Rohit Sharma, India became the only team in T20 World Cup history t...