Who can forget the brilliant catch Suryakumar Yadav took in Barbados to seal India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the final against South Africa? That contest added to the already strong Indo-Protean rivalry.

India's hegemony

South Africa’s emergence as a strong challenger to the Men in Blue’s hegemony is a good sign for the game, given that India’s traditional rivals, Pakistan, are hardly the force they used to be. India’s recent battles with South Africa have been far more interesting and closer than those against Pakistan. The rivalry is crucial in the context of the ongoing T20 World Cup too, considering that while-ball powerhouses Australia have already made a premature exit.