New Delhi, March 9 — India clinched their second T20 World Cup title in 18 months, but on-field celebrations after the emphatic win were measured rather than raucous, reflecting a team increasingly accustomed to success. There were smiles, hugs and an impromptu bhangra or two, yet players’ immediate reactions suggested they believed only an exceptionally poor day could have cost them the trophy. The 2024 triumph in Barbados, where Rohit Sharma’s side finally ended a long run of near-misses, seems to have set a new standard that the team has since maintained.
The current squad’s average age is close to 30, leaving most players well placed to remain at their peak for the next T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in late 2028. Before that defence, the team also has its sights on Olympic gold in Los Angeles when cricket returns to the Summer Games after a 128-year absence. Among the victorious 15, only captain Suryakumar Yadav, 35, is over 30, but he told reporters he expects to be part of both campaigns.
“Throughout the journey till today, it has been very special and collectively as a team what we’ve achieved… very happy with that. Definitely the next goal is Olympics, Olympic gold and also the T20 World Cup that year. Don’t forget,” Suryakumar said at a packed press conference after India completed a clinical rout of New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Asked whether he could sustain motivation for “five years,” he replied, “let’s do it,” and noted the transformation that began after the 2024 victory, followed by an ICC Champions Trophy win in 2025 under Rohit Sharma.
Senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya, 32, was among the more animated in celebration and told Star Sports he feels he still has a decade of cricket ahead. “The win had a lot of difficulties, a lot had happened. For me, that was about redemption and make my fifth comeback. This win is something I lived for and played cricket for,” Pandya said, adding he wants to lift “six-seven” more ICC trophies over the next ten years to reach a personal target of around ten.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, also 32, will be pivotal if he manages his workload, making a three-peat of ICC titles more achievable. The selectors and management will face tough calls in the coming cycle as they balance form, age and fitness to keep the Indian juggernaut rolling. (PTI)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/03/10/after-t20-title-defence-india-chase-olympic-glory/
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Publish Date: 2026-03-10 06:56:00
