Malayali Factor in India's World Cup wins: Sanju Samson Becomes Latest Good Luck Charm in T20 World Cup 2024

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Malayali Factor in India's World Cup wins: India ended their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy after beating South Africa by seven runs in the T20 World Cup 2024 final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.

This is India's first T20 World Cup trophy in 17 years, and first World Cup trophy (T20I or ODI) in 13 years. India faced numerous heartbreaks before finally redeeming themselves against South Africa.

India lost the final ODI World Cup 2023, finals of World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021 and 2023, T20 World Cup final in 2014, the final of ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, apart from losing in the semi-final of 2019 ODI World, 2016 and 2022 T20 World Cup semi-finals.

It all looked lost for India once again as South Africa were in need of just 30 runs off the last 30 balls with six wickets in hand. But India proved why cricket is a funny sport by showing nerves of steel and beating South Africa by seven wickets.

India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup without losing a match. The Men in Blue were clinical on the field, and for those who believe in superstition, the 'Mallu Factor' also contributed. Notably, all the Indian teams which have won ICC World Cups at least had one Malayali player featuring in the squad.

• Sunil Valson: The left-arm pacer was part of Kapil Dev's 1983 World Cup-winning team. However, Sunil Valson did not get to play any match for India.
• S Sreesanth: The former pacer was part of India's two World Cup wins. He was the member of the India squad which won the T20 World Cup 2007, and ODI World Cup 2011.
• Robin Uthappa: The former opener is a half Malayali. He was part of India's T20 World Cup 2007 win.
• Sanju Samson: Like Valson, Samson also did not play a single game in India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.