India Claim Title with Thrilling Victory Over Pakistan: World Championship of Legends 2024

India Champions beat Pakistan Champions, their bitterest rivals, by five wickets in the thrilling World Championship of Legends 2024 final held here at Edgbaston on Saturday, July 13.

In a thrilling contest that came down to the wire between two very competitive teams, the Yuvraj Singh-led team proved their supremacy in the league and won the coveted championship.

After winning the toss, the Pakistani Champions chose to bat first and amassed a respectable 156 for 6 in their 20 overs. The squad got off to a strong start with to Kamran Akmal (24 off 19) and Maqsood (21 off 12), but regular wickets held the score in check.

The innings was anchored by Shoaib Malik's vital 41 off 23 balls, making him the outstanding player. Irfan Pathan clean bowled Captain Younis Khan for seven runs, ensuring he would not leave an impression. After scoring a blistering eighteen, Misbah-ul-Haq was injured and had to be replaced, but Sohail Tanvir's late contributions (19* off 9) helped Pakistan secure a decent score. Pakistan's batting lineup was significantly limited by the efforts of the Indian bowlers, who were headed by Anureet Singh, who took three wickets, and Vinay Kumar, Pawan Negi, and Irfan Pathan, who each took one wicket.

India Champions responded by deliberately beginning their run chase. Even though Ambati Rayudu lost Robin Uthappa (10) early in the innings, his brilliant fifty off thirty balls laid the groundwork for the Men in Blue's chase.

In the same over, Suresh Raina also left cheaply for four, aiding Pakistan's recovery. However, Rayudu and Gurkeerat Singh Maan's (34 off 33) solid combination kept India in the game. The momentum remained solidly in India's favour with Yusuf Pathan's scorching 30 off 16 balls before the latter was removed in the last over. Rayudu and Mann also went out in a span of 10 runs

To the pleasure of their supporters, India secured the victory, closing at 159 for 5 in 19.1 overs, with skipper Yuvraj Singh (15*) and Irfan Pathan (5*) at the crease.

Even with their best efforts, Pakistan's bowlers were unable to stop India's progress towards the objective. With stats of 3-0-29-2, Aamer Yamin was the most effective bowler. He was aided by Sohail Tanvir and Sohail Khan, who each claimed one wicket.

Brief Scores

56/6 in 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 41, Kamran Akmal 24; Anureet Singh 2/43) for the Pakistan Champions.

159/5 in 19.1 overs (Ambati Rayudu 50, Gurkeerat Singh Mann 34, Yusuf Pathan 30; Aamer Yamin 2/29) to become the champions of India.

India won by a margin of five wickets.