In a thrilling final of the World Championship of Legends 2024 (WCL 2024), champions India defeated champions Pakistan by five wickets to lift the trophy on Saturday, July 13 in Birmingham.
The spirit of cricket was on full display at the WCL 2024 final, with players showing respect and support for each other on the field, and this unity and sportsmanship makes cricket a truly global sport, loved and acclaimed by fans around the world.
Robin Uthappa’s gesture towards Misbah-ul-Haq at WCL 2024 final wins hearts
Well, the WCL 2024 final between the champions of India and the champions of Pakistan was full of stellar performances but it was the sportsmanship of former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa that really shone through and won the hearts of fans across the world.
In the highly anticipated final, Pakistan’s champions set a challenging target of 156 runs, thanks to Shoaib Malik’s 41 and Kamran Akmal’s 24 runs against champions India in Birmingham.
The Indian champions reached the total thanks to a stunning half-century from Ambati Rayudu. Gurkeerat Singh Mann (34) and Yusuf Pathan (30) also shone with the bat.
However, the most memorable moment of the 2024 WCL final came when legendary Pakistani batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, batting at number six, injured his hamstring while executing multiple doubles during his 18-run knock in the first innings.
Misbah, 50, was in severe pain and started limping off the field. At that point, in an act of exemplary sportsmanship, Indian wicket-keeper-batsman Uthappa came forward to help the injured Misbah and put his arm around him in support.
Watch Robin Uthappa’s sportsmanship at the WCL 2024 final here:
Cricket spirit moment in Birmingham 🧡#IndvPakonFanCode #WCLonFanCode pic.twitter.com/l3iBarnGwU
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 13, 2024
This gesture by Uthappa highlighted the respect and camaraderie between the players, prompting the Birmingham crowd to warmly cheer the Indian star. Misbah’s pat of appreciation on Uthappa’s back showed the unity that cricket fosters beyond national boundaries.
Younis Khan congratulated India on winning the WCL trophy
Meanwhile, champions India’s victory in the WCL 2024 final was a team effort, with contributions from both the batting and bowling departments. The bowlers executed their strategies meticulously, with Anureet Singh finishing with a three-wicket haul in the final against champions Pakistan.
Yuvraj Singh, the captain of the Indian champions, played a pivotal role in the team’s success with his strategic leadership and clear communication. He assigned specific roles to each player, ensuring that they executed their tasks with precision. His tactical acumen was evident throughout the tournament and was a key factor in the Indian champions’ triumph at the WCL 2024.
Yusuf Pathan also made a significant impact in the final, with a match-winning 30 runs, three sixes and a four, against the champions Pakistan. On the other hand, the captain of the champions Pakistan, Younis Khan, congratulated India for winning the WCL trophy and said that they played like legends and were right on all counts in the final.
Younis added: “We were planning to put a total on the board but having partnerships is mandatory in the final. India made some partnerships, which helped them reach the total.”