The magnificent performance of India in the final of the recent T20 World Cup, went a long way to underlining the massive gulf existing between the top and bottom teams participating in the competition, even if it was played on the home ground of the winners.
England may have given India a game to be proud of, but never had in my opinion, the all round power and flair of an Indian team who oozed class in every department, not least in the opening partnerships when they batted first against New Zealand and England. When you are averaging 14 runs an over for the first half of the innings it’s tough going for any team batting second.
Even their bowling attack was up to the task, taking vital wickets just when their opponents must have felt they were set to challenge. Any team which can have Bumrah as a first change bowler is surely blessed with riches.
Whatever way you look at it, the best team won the tournament, and may well now go on to dominate all formats in the world game for the next few years.
There is certainly a confidence in their ranks which bodes no good for the chasing pack.
But what of the others in what generally was a good competition, made all the better by some solid performances by the so called lesser nations, including Italy, Nepal, and dare I it whisper it Scotland. The latter flattered to deceive after most workmanlike performances against the ever improving West Indies, and England fell away when they should have done better against Italy and Nepal. The now well established Zimbabwe did well, but I would dearly love to see Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan live up to their real potential.
Australia had a tournament to forget, while England need to get over their belief of thinking they are better than they actually are.
Overall, a good tournament, putting this writer in the mood for the forthcoming local season in which I hope to catch up with old friends all over the region.