India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph was ultimately shaped not by an uninterrupted march but by a moment of discomfort that forced a reset. While speaking to the Indian Express, Shivam Dube made that clear when he identified the defeat to South Africa as the moment when India truly sharpened into title-winning form.

That loss in the first match of the Super Eight stage, in his telling, refined the whole unit. “As a team, we peaked after the loss against South Africa. Before that game, we were playing well, but we all pulled up our socks after that. We were a completely different team, and our best came in the final,” Dube said.

Dube’s statement speaks of a team that used defeat as inspiration to notch up their displays. India had quality from the outset, but Dube’s words suggest that the setback stripped away whatever complacency still remained. By the time the final arrived, they were no longer just a side moving well through the tournament; they had transformed into a team with sharper purpose, cleaner execution and greater conviction.

“My role was simple and communicated a long time ago by coach Gautam Gambhir and Surya bhai – keeping the strike rate high. If I’m asked to bowl, keep a tight line and keep the runs down. During the last World Cup, too, I had a similar role, but that time I had only a couple of big knocks. This time, I told myself that I won’t think too far ahead and take things match by match,” Dube said.

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That clarity was key. In big tournaments such as the World Cup, star turns alone won’t win you the title. They are won through players understanding exactly what their team needs from them and delivering within the framework. Dube was performing a specific function defined by the team, and that precision gave him the freedom to do so.

“I always had the confidence and just backed myself. I had worked hard on it. There was clarity in what the team wanted from me. I didn’t promise anything to myself, and the goal was to win the World Cup at home,” he said.

That final thought neatly captures both his campaign and India’s larger journey. There was no obsession with personal milestones, no attempt to force a narrative around individual redemption. The focus stayed fixed on the larger prize. India’s run to the title, as Dube describes it, was built on absorbing a setback, sharpening after it, and producing the best cricket when the tournament demanded it most.

South Africa and West Indies cricket team (Agency Image)

The International Cricket Council has responded to allegations of bias after travel complications following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sparked a major controversy involving several teams.Although the tournament concluded on Sunday with India national cricket team defeating New Zealand national cricket team in a one-sided final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, some participating teams have remained stuck in India due to ongoing airspace restrictions linked to the conflict in the Middle East and West Asia.Among those affected are the West Indies national cricket team and the South Africa national cricket team. The West Indies played their final match of the tournament on March 1 but are still in India, while South Africa have also been unable to leave after their semi-final defeat to New Zealand on March 4.In contrast, the England national cricket team returned home shortly after losing their semi-final to India on March 5. The difference in travel timelines has triggered criticism, with many questioning how England managed to depart while other teams remained stuck.One of the most outspoken voices has been former England captain Michael Vaughan, who accused the ICC of favouring certain teams.“All teams in this situation should be treated the same. Just because you are more powerful at the ICC table shouldn’t count,” he said.

Michael Vaughan post

According to a report by BBC, the ICC has strongly denied any suggestion of preferential treatment and clarified that logistical factors alone determined when teams could leave.“Decisions on departure sequencing are being driven solely by airspace availability, aircraft routing permissions, visa requirements and operational safety considerations.“Any suggestion that teams have been prioritised based on anything other than these constraints is incorrect,” BBC quoted an ICC spokesperson.The situation had already drawn attention earlier when West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed his frustration on X. In one post he wrote, “I just wanna go home”, before sharing additional messages reflecting the team’s growing impatience.Subsequent reports indicated that arrangements had been made for a chartered flight to take the Caribbean side home, with the team expected to depart later today. South Africa’s squad is also likely to leave India today.The ICC also explained why England were able to travel earlier than the other teams.“For instance, the England team and their staff were able to fly out from Mumbai without restriction due to the route’s airspace being unaffected and flights operating as usual.“The ICC categorically refutes any claims of bias in this or other instances, and has been fully accommodating of specific demands and conditions put forth by teams,” it said.

Yash Dhull (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: Life felt incredibly difficult and frustrating for Yash Dhull as he spent months confined to the four corners of a room. The 2022 Under-19 World Cup-winning captain was bedridden after undergoing heart surgery, slowly recovering while battling the constant urge to return to the middle and resume playing cricket.Dhull was diagnosed with a hole in his heart after his family urged him to consult a doctor. He had been experiencing symptoms for some time — shortness of breath, constant fatigue, lack of energy and sudden weight loss. As the symptoms worsened, medical tests confirmed the condition, forcing the young cricketer to step away from the game and focus on treatment and recovery.

“Many times it happened that after playing a full match, like a national match, I would feel extremely tired and it felt like my fitness was gradually going down. Later, when I was in a camp, the issue was detected there. I got tests done again and that’s when we found out exactly what it was. Even the doctors were a little surprised — they asked how I was still playing. I hadn’t realised it earlier, but once it was detected, it meant there was an option to fix it,” Yash Dhull told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“At that time the timeline wasn’t clear because there was no option except surgery. My mindset was clear, and my family also believed that getting it done at the right time was the better option because the problem could have become bigger later. For me, health is everything. My thinking was simple — if I become fit, everything else will slowly come back. It takes time, but things gradually fall into place. When you are not mentally or physically fit and have issues, you cannot move forward properly. So my focus was to finish this issue first and then see how things move ahead,” he said.After the heart surgery, Dhull was bedridden for several days. As per the doctors’ advice, he was told not to travel or play cricket for a while.But the determined youngster had just one question for the doctors — and he asked it almost every day: “Main kab se cricket khel sakta hoon?” (When can I start playing cricket again?)

“That time was tough. I was itching to get back in the middle. When I started running again, it just wasn’t happening. Even completing one round was very difficult. Slowly, things began to improve. I even tried to play in the DPL in the first year, but it wasn’t possible because my heart rate and BP were going very high. It was very risky as my BP could suddenly shoot up, so I had to back off. Then I started preparing for the season and praying for recovery. Things improve gradually. If you rush them, they don’t work. When you take it step by step, it takes time, but eventually things come back,” Yash Dhull, who led India to the 2022 Under-19 World Cup title after beating England in the final, said.DHULL’S NEXT TARGET: SENIOR WORLD CUPDhull is among the few captains who have led India to the Under-19 World Cup title.India have won the Under-19 ODI World Cup a record six times — in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022 and 2026. The title-winning captains include Mohammad Kaif (2000), Virat Kohli (2008), Unmukt Chand (2012), Prithvi Shaw (2018), Dhull (2022) and Ayush Mhatre (2026).

For Dhull, however, the Under-19 World Cup is not just a memory. His next target is clear — representing India at the senior World Cup.“I talk to players like Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma and Axar Patel. I’m very close to them and you learn a lot just by being around them. You observe what they do and how they go about their work, and that helps a lot. They’ve always told me to prepare in such a way that when an opportunity comes, you don’t miss it,” he said.Due to health issues and the surgery, Dhull — who played for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League from 2022 to 2024 — went unsold at the IPL 2026 auction.“Yes, you do feel a little disappointed, but at the same time you cannot get stuck in that feeling. You have to get back to your work. If you stay stuck on one thing, you won’t be able to focus on the opportunities ahead. Right now, I’m waiting to see what opportunities come my way. Whatever comes, I’m preparing for it and I’m ready. Anything can happen in life at any time — things can change anytime — so I’m preparing for that,” Dhull said.“The dream is to play a senior World Cup. I am confident that I will play one day. Every cricketer dreams of representing India at a World Cup,” he said.