India, March 8 -- India's men have contested the final of an ICC tournament four times in the last two and a quarter years. Their record stands at an even 2-2, defeats in the title rounds of the World Test Championship in June 2023 and the 50-over World Cup final that same November, both to Australia, somewhat assuaged by victories against South Africa in the T20 World Cup decider in Bridgetown in June 2024 and against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy title tile in Dubai last March.

A little under 12 months after that stirring triumph in the desert, India are on the cusp of becoming the first three-time champions of the T20 World Cup. Standing between them and history are the perennial nice boys of world cricket, the eminently likeabl...