This year has been nothing short of spectacular for cricket fans, from thrilling matches that kept fans on the edge of their seats to individual performances that made new records in the sport’s rich history. Whether it’s the excitement of a World Cup campaign, a dramatic final over, or a record-breaking individual feat, 2024 has been a year where the game reached new heights.
In this article, we look back at the top 10 cricketing moments of 2024—each moment a proof of the passion, skill, and drama that makes cricket the beloved sport it is today.
India’s T20 World Cup Win
After a heartbreaking loss in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia in Ahmedabad on 19th November, India had their redemption in the T20 World Cup.
In 2024, India’s journey to T20 World Cup glory was nothing short of magical. The tournament started with high expectations, but the Indian team was determined to prove their worth. With a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, India quickly found their rhythm.
Despite the batting failure against arch-rivals Pakistan, the standout performance from the Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling attack was clinical, restricting the opposition and picking up key wickets at crucial moments.
As India reached the semifinals without losing any game in the group stage and super eights, the stakes were higher than ever. They faced England, a team known for their big-match temperament. But India’s resilience shone through. In a thrilling contest, India comfortably defended 172 runs and Axar Patel was named Man of the Match (MOTM) for his all-round performance.
The final was set – India vs. South Africa. set a competitive total, but India’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh, kept them in check. With the pressure mounting, India needed 160 runs to lift the trophy. Keshav Maharaj set the tone for South Africa by dismissing the in-form Indian skipper for just and wicket-keeper batsman Rishab Pant for a duck.
In a nerve-wracking match, where India’s top order struggled. But it was once again Virat Kohli, the player for the big occasion, who guided India to post a decent total on the board with a composed 76. His innings were filled with controlled aggression and maturity.
Jasprit Bumrah once again stepped up and delivered an outstanding spell of just conceding 18 runs and claiming two wickets, Heinrich Klassen almost helped South Africa to cross the line but Hardik Pandya picked up the important wicket of Klaseen and guided India to lift their second title of T20 World Cup.
As the Indian players lifted the T20 World Cup trophy, the celebrations were electric. Fans across the country erupted in joy, proud of their team’s remarkable achievement. India had not only won the title but had done so with grit, determination, and unity – proving once again that they are a powerhouse in world cricket. This title was important for the fans of the Indian cricket team as they went through a lot of pain on the 19th of November.
USA shocked PAK
In the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024, no one expected the USA to beat Pakistan, a team with a rich cricketing history. Pakistan entered the game as clear favorites, with their experienced players ready to dominate. But the USA, with its fresh energy and determination, had other plans.
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. They got off to a solid start but only managed to score 159 runs, with the quality of Pakistan’s bowling line-up it was an easy win for Pakistan but the USA openers Jaskaran Malhotra and Ali Khan, gave them a solid start.
As the USA scored 159 in 20 overs, the game was forced into a Super Over where Saurabh Netravalkar who was economically in the whole match just conceded one boundary in the Super Over, which helped the USA to pull one of the biggest upsets in the game.
Pakistan Spin a Web Against England
In an unforgettable Test series in October 2024, Pakistan stunned England with a brilliant display of spin bowling, clinching their first Test series victory since 2021. The series was played on home soil and was a true test of Pakistan’s skill, and they passed with flying colors.
In the first Test, Pakistan posted 556 in the first innings with skipper Shan Masood scoring 151 runs but Pakistan went clueless when England’s legendary test batsman scored 262 runs and England’s young sensation Harry Brook smashed a triple century and helped England to put on the massive score of 823 runs.
The second Test in Multan saw England come out strong, but Pakistan’s spinners dominated the English batsmen, Sajid Khan was awarded Man Of The Match for his brilliant performance with the ball, he picked 9 wickets in the Test match.
The series decider was hosted by Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium where Pakistan’s spinners continued their domination and guided Pakistan to their first Test series victory on home soil since 2021.
Pakistan Whitewashed South Africa
In one of the most remarkable feats in modern-day cricket, Pakistan achieved a historic 3-0 whitewash against South Africa in their backyard during the 2024 ODI series. This victory was not just any series win—it made Pakistan the first team ever to clean-sweep South Africa in an ODI series at home, leaving fans and the world cricket stunned by their dominant performance.
A solid hundred from Saim Ayub and an all-round performance from Salman Agha guided Pakistan to a three-wicket win in the first ODI, Salman Agha was named the Player of the Match but he shared the award with Saim Ayub.
Saim Ayub smashed two tons in this series and Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam also regained his form and smashed two consecutive 50’s. Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was also in good rhythm. There were a lot of positives for Pakistan before the Champions Trophy 2025. It was a win that showcased Pakistan’s all-around strength, from their aggressive bowling attack to their composed batting performances.
KKR Win Third IPL Title
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won 9 of their 14 matches and topped the table, KKR faced Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final who were playing aggressive cricket and were looking like a very dangerous side to beat.
The match, held in Chepak Stadium, was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams battling hard for the prestigious trophy. Mitchell Starc who was the most expensive player in the 2024 edition of the IPL clicked in the final and claimed the big wicket of Abhishek Sharma who was in the red hot form, KKR managed to restrict SRH to just 113 runs.
KKR easily chased down the target in 10.3 overs, Starc was awarded as POTM in the final and KKR all-rounder Sunil Narine was named as player of the tournament.
KKR’s victory was celebrated by fans across the country, as they became the first team since 2016 to win three IPL titles. The win was the proof of their all-round strength, with key performances from both their bowlers and batsmen, making IPL 2024 a season to remember for Kolkata Knight Riders.
New Zealand Dominated India
In November this year, the Kiwis handed India an uncommon whitewash at home, clinching the three-test matches series 3-0. The Kiwis scripted history becoming the first team to white-wash India in their backyard in the last 24 years. The Kiwis proved to be the better side and exposed India’s batting vulnerabilities against spin, as the Indian batting lineup collapsed.
The Indian batting lineup badly failed in the first test match as they managed to put in a total of only 46 runs, with Matt Henry picking 5 wickets and William Rouque taking 4 wickets in the two innings giving the batters a terrible time.
In the second test match, Rohit Sharma and Co again faced a terrible time against the Kiwi bowlers. The Indian batting stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both were left in misery as they both failed to perform throughout the 3-match test series, with questions raised about captaincy and general team discipline.
The Kiwis outperformed the hosts as they looked clueless in all three departments of the game. Skipper Rohit also admitted that it was a collective failure from the team and hoped that the batting unit would bounce back against Australia in the BGT.
However, this defeat left India humiliated as New Zealand did the unthinkable and proved to the world that India’s side could be defeated in their backyard.
Shamar Joseph Scripts Famous Win for West Indies in Australia
In January 2024, the West Indies claimed a landmark Test victory against Australia at the Gabba, marking their first win on Australian soil in 27 years. The star of the match was 24-year-old fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who delivered an extraordinary performance despite dealing with a painful injury.
On the third day, Joseph was hit on the toe by a fierce yorker from Mitchell Starc, forcing him to leave the field. His ability to return on the fourth day was in doubt. However, he made a determined comeback and bowled a sensational spell, taking 7 wickets for just 68 runs. His heroics played a crucial role in bowling Australia out for 207, sealing a thrilling eight-run win for the West Indies.
This memorable victory broke a decades-long losing streak in Australia and highlighted the grit and determination of players like Joseph, who pushed through personal challenges to guide their team to a historic triumph.
Bumrah and Others Fire India to Perth Win in BGT
India came to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) after suffering a humiliating whitewash on their home soil against New Zealand and the absence of the skipper Rohit Sharma made it even worse for them, head coach Gautam Gambhir made a brave decision by dropping India’s most experienced test spinners R.Ashwin and R. Jadeja.
After scoring just 150 runs in the first innings India looked in trouble but the Indian bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah gave Australian batsmen a tough time in the middle and bundled out the hosts for 104 runs.
After a sudden change in the behaviour of the pitch Indian batsman roared back after a sloppy display of batting in the first innings, India scored 487 runs and gave Australia a massive target of 534 runs.
For Australia, Travis Head was fighting a lone battle before he was dismissed by the skipper Jasprit Bumrah for 89 runs. Bumrah was awarded as Man Of The Match (MOTM) for his outstanding 8-wicket haul in the test match.
Afghanistan Makes History With Semi-Final Appearance
In June 2024, Afghanistan’s cricket team achieved a historic moment by reaching the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time. Their campaign was filled with important wins and determined performances.
A key moment came during the Super Eight stage when Afghanistan played against Bangladesh. Batting first, they managed to score 115/5, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz adding important 43 runs. While chasing, Bangladesh was bowled out for 105, credit to brilliant bowling from captain Rashid Khan, who took 4/23, and Naveen-ul-Haq, who picked up 4/26. This thrilling eight-run win (DLS method) secured Afghanistan’s spot in the semi-finals and knocked Australia out of the tournament.
In the semi-finals, Afghanistan faced a strong South African team. Batting first, they struggled against the pace bowlers and were all out for just 56 runs, their lowest score in T20 internationals. South Africa easily chased the target, handing Afghanistan a nine-wicket loss.
Despite the defeat, Afghanistan’s journey to the semi-finals brought immense pride to their nation. Fans in cities like Khost and Jalalabad celebrated the team’s success, showing how cricket brought hope and happiness to the country during tough times.
Afghanistan’s performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup showcased their progress in world cricket and inspired fans and future cricketers across the globe.
Rishabh Pant Becomes the Most Expensive IPL Player
In the IPL 2024 auction held in Jeddah, Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when the Lucknow Super Giants signed him for ₹27 crore (approximately $3.20 million). This record-breaking bid showcased the immense demand for Pant’s talent, especially after his return to form following a serious car accident in late 2022.
Before Pant’s signing, Shreyas Iyer had broken the previous record by being sold to the Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore earlier that day, surpassing the earlier benchmark set by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc. However, Pant’s deal quickly eclipsed Iyer’s, solidifying his position as the highest-paid player in IPL history.
This auction was notable for its bidding wars, reflecting the franchise’s confidence in players who could bring both skill and leadership to their teams.
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
