THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS WT20

This T20 World Cup has been different in more ways than one. The fixture format was one reason. But what stood out was how this tournament has not been about the slam-bang of the cricket ball, the big sixes or the huge scores but a tournament about the bowlers.

The bowlers, who have most rules and regulations against them, evolved in such a way that they affected the course of the match much more than the batsmen. Never did a T20 World Cup before see 5 scores below 100. 
Apart from that, there were small but viewer enriching innovations in the equipment department like the LED stumps which lit up each time the ball hit them.
A few performances lit up this T20 World Cup like nothing else and they should be remembered for long -

1. Virat Kohli - This player continues to give more proof of his batting genius by each passing day. By his own admission, he was not batting his best but still the way he won the semifinal for India was sheer class. He never looked out of control.
 
2. Netherlands - It was a far improved side in this World T20 and made for an interesting watching. Be it chasing 193 in 13.5 overs against Ireland, losing narrowly to SA by 6 runs or beating England by 46 runs, there were always signs of them improving. But not to forget, they also made the record for the lowest score against SL. Also, there was another upset when HONG KONG defeated BANGLADESH by 2 wickets. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Bangladeshi fans following the loss to Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.
 
3. Dale Steyn - Need 7 to get off the last over with 5 wickets in hand. Seems easy for the batting side, doesn't it? But it was not to be. Dale Steyn's performance against NZ, especially the last over, was simply brilliant. Just conceding a 4 in the last over and defending 6 runs without bowling a yorker was something unheard of but Steyn made it possible.
 
4. Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra - After a very long time the Indian spinners dominated the proceedings this way. The opposition batsmen had no answer to Ashwin's carrom ball and Mishra's googly. The ball to dismiss Hashim Amla by Ashwin would have made even Shane Warne proud.
 
5. Bravo and Sammy finishing off the innings - Whether it was against Pak or Aus, WI looked down and out in the match only to be saved by Bravo and Sammy both times. The celebration after beating Australia will be remembered for quite a long time in the minds of cricket lovers.
 
6. Alex Hales' 116 v SL - Alex Hales almost single handedly won the match for Eng. Chasing 190, England were 2 down for nothing. His knock was testimony to the fact why he's rated so highly in this format.
 
7. Imran Tahir - The highest wicket taker of the tournament came from a land which has been known for it's fast bowlers. But it was SA's Imran Tahir who made a difference to their bowling and was instrumental in the match against the Dutch.

I think the above things made this tournament a memorable one and will be etched in the memories of fans for long.