India, March 8 -- Abhishek Sharma's words after India's T20 World Cup triumph were not the usual winner's lines thrown out in the afterglow of a title. They came with the weight of a difficult tournament, the vulnerability of a player who had spent weeks searching for a way out, and the gratitude of someone who knew exactly who had kept him afloat when things were not going well.

That is what made his post-match reaction stand out. India had won the World Cup, and Abhishek had finally delivered on the biggest night. But when he spoke, he did not begin with the innings. He began with the people who had refused to give up on him.

"Of course, but the one thing was very clear. I wanted to share it before as well. But today is the right day,...