India kept up their end of the bargain, through the magnificent Jasprit Bumrah and his admirable pace-bowling comrades-in-arms, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya. When victory was the easier, more inviting option, South Africa chose to embrace defeat. Rahul Dravid was set to walk away into the coaching sunset at the end of the World Cup, until Rohit picked up his phone and talked to the older man, convincing him to stay on till the T20 World Cup. India playing at home in a tournament as high-profile as a World Cup is a multi-edged sword. Until it was shattered by South Africa, muscular and motivated, determined to slay the demons of 2024.
