During the annual Naman Awards on February 1, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) presented the “Champions Ring” to members of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team. The specially designed rings featured each player’s name and number, along with the Ashoka Chakra at the center, encircled by the words “India T20 World Champions 2024.”
Unveiling the rings, the BCCI shared a video on social media, stating, “Presenting #TeamIndia with their CHAMPIONS RING to honour their flawless campaign in the #T20WorldCup. Diamonds may be forever, but this win certainly is immortalised in a billion hearts. These memories will ‘Ring’ loud and live with us forever.”
Presenting #TeamIndia with their CHAMPIONS RING to honour their flawless campaign in the #T20WorldCup ????
Diamonds may be forever, but this win certainly is immortalised in a billion hearts. These memories will ‘Ring’ loud and live with us forever ✨#NamanAwards pic.twitter.com/SKK9gkq4JR
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 7, 2025
The victory marked India’s first major ICC trophy since the 2013 Champions Trophy, making the moment even more special. Nine members of the 15-player squad that competed in the intense final against South Africa in Barbados attended the ceremony. Notably absent was Virat Kohli, who played a crucial role with his 76 off 59 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award. Kohli was occupied with a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi, which coincided with the ceremony’s date.
Reflecting on the triumph, captain Rohit Sharma admitted that the realization of winning the World Cup took time. “Honestly, it took a while for me to realize we’ve won the World Cup. Until we came to Mumbai, we realized what we actually did. Unfortunately for us, in Barbados, we were stuck there because of the hurricane, and we were not able to go out. So, for three or four days we were there, and you know when you win an ICC trophy, you want to go and celebrate, especially when you are not in the country, and bring it back to the country and celebrate with the fans,” he shared.
The final was a nerve-wracking contest, with South Africa needing just 30 runs off the last five overs. India’s victory led to an outpouring of emotions, with Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and even the reserved Jasprit Bumrah shedding tears. The triumph was especially significant as it came months after the team’s heartbreak in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia.
Following this achievement, veterans Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20 internationals, closing a historic chapter in Indian cricket.
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