Australia emerged as the new T20 champions defeating New Zealand by eight wickets in the grand finale of the T20 World Cup 2021.
Five-time 50-over world champions Australia earned praise for ending their search of the maiden world title in the shortest format of cricket, while International Cricket Council and hosts of the tournament Board of Control for Cricket in India are being widely congratulated for successfully arranging the multi-nation tournament amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Due to Covid-19 concerns in India, the tournament was shifted to the middle east – in the United Arab Emirates and Oman –in a short notice within a notice of 90 days.
The tournament in the two countries hosted 45 matches – 12 in First Round in Oman and UAE and 33 in main round across three venues - Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai - in the UAE.
The bio-secure bubble was strictly in place for teams, match officials and broadcasters.
The limited movement between the hotel and the field for those inside the bubble and regular Covid-19 tests took a toll.
And speaking of the media, it was not easy for them too with interaction limited over virtual press conferences and phone.
A reporter willing to attend in-person press conferences before or after the game in the first global cricket event had to present Covid-19 negative test reports.
In terms of quality of the games, there was however no shortage of drama and emotion.
The supporters were allowed into the stadiums and they along with the world in front of the teles and other devices witnessed an outstanding competition, let it be in the qualifying round or the Super 12, followed by the semis and the final.
The tournament for a Bangladesh cricket supporter however, was a bitter pill to swallow.
The side moved to the main event after a bit of trouble, having started the tournament on a losing note to an ICC associate side, and then failed to register a win in the Super 12s.
Mahmudullah and his team went back home empty-handed after facing defeats in all five Super 12 games.
There were two occasions where they went close to their maiden win in the tournament proper - against Sri Lanka and West Indies - but mistakes and decisions backfiring at crucial moments of the games denied them from having the last smile.
The failure was tough for the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the supporters to accept and it triggered heavy criticism towards the players and the team management.
There were exchange of words between the players, BCB influentials and the so-called "outsiders" and the eventual outcome was the board coming to the decision of making a drastic change in the T20 setup with the 2022 T20 World Cup in mind.
The board is also looking at ways to bring change in the coaching setup with Russell Domingo in the lead as the head coach.
So far, fielding coach Ryan Cook has been released from the job as the board decided not to extend the contract with the South African.
There are challenges for the board to break the contract with Domingo – signed just ahead of the T20 World Cup.
The South African coach will have to be paid a heavy compensation in case the BCB breaks the agreement before its expiration, but it is understood that the board is desperately and deeply exploring ways into what could be done in this regard.
Other than the Bangladesh events, the tournament gave some brilliant and cherishable memories in terms of the competition between the other teams, and perhaps Pakistan failing to make the final of the event was the biggest shock.
The team were clinical throughout the Super 12, starting the campaign with the record 10-wicket win over arch-rivals India.
They qualified for the semis unbeaten but lost to eventual champions Australia.
Despite losing the semi-final, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan won hearts following his heroic show where the cricketer spent two days in the ICU prior to the game due to a severe chest infection and went on to strike a blistering 67-run knock against the Aussies.
Pre-tournament favorites India were ruled out from the group stage for the first time in the history of the T20 World Cup.
England had come to the event with high hopes and Eoin Morgan’s side truly played some outstanding brand of cricket.
The Three Lions progressed till the semis and headed home after losing to New Zealand – in a game that will remain as one of the finest contests in the format, and in the T20 World Cup.
The Kiwis with the win had avenged their defeat to England in the 2019 50-over World Cup final.
English batsman Jos Buttler registered the only century in the tournament this year, against Sri Lanka.
Australia opener David Warner was named the player of the tournament.
With three half centuries in seven games in the tournament, Warner replied aptly to the doubts over his form, finishing with 289 runs at an average of 48.16 and strike rate of 146.7.
The left-handed batsman scored 53 in the final against New Zealand and the unbeaten 89 against the West Indies in the Super 12 was one of the best innings in the tournament.
There is an opposite argument that the player of the tournament award should have gone to Pakistan captain and opener Babar Azam.
One of the finest batsman of current times, Babar finished as the top-scorer in the tournament with 303 runs in just six innings at an average of 60.6.
With the ball, Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva finished top with 16 wickets in eight games.
The world will have to wait only till the next year for the tournament to return with Australia set to host the competition in October-November.