India, the biggest promotor of T20 cricket, is determined to end a World Cup title drought
cricket landscape, India boasts the richest and most-watched league in the world. Yet, all that investment and attention hasn't translated into international success for India's national team. Rohit Sharma's India squad travels to the T20 World Cup in the United States and Caribbean, hunting a second title to end a long drought.
Undoubtedly, the Indian Premier League is flush with cash and talent, attracting the best cricketers worldwide.
Since the advent of IPL, though, India hasn't lifted the World Cup trophy.
After winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007, India has only reached one more final — losing to Sri Lanka in 2014.
The title drought crosses formats, too. India last won an International Cricket Council title in 2013 — the Champions Trophy in England. It last lifted the Cricket World Cup in the 50-over format in 2011.
Last year was exceptional in that sense — India lost the World Test Championship final to Australia in England and, a few months later, also lost the 50-over World Cup final to Australia, this time on home soil.
That caused major anguish in a cricket-mad country of 1.4 billion, considering India was on a 10-0 winning streak and a hot favourite going into the final.
Seven months later, Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli are leading the campaign in what in all probability will be their last T20 tournament in India's blue.
Sharma has been a part of every Indian squad at the T20 World Cup. Kohli debuted in the 2012 edition, making this his sixth attempt at the title.
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