As the year 2024 draws to a close, we take a look at some of the finest moments that the international game saw in the year. While Team India’s ongoing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia has been disappointing, we saw a fair share of heroics from them earlier this year.

A lot of other teams too rose up in esteem, especially Bangladesh, who beat Pakistan for the first time in a series, as well as New Zealand, who defeated India for the first time in a series in the latter country. What was astonishing about both these achievements was that they resulted in whitewashes for the home nations.

In this listicle, we take a look at the top 5 moments of international cricket in 2024.

#5 The USA knocking Pakistan out of the T20 World Cup

A major event that took place this year was the performance of the United States of America in the T20 World Cup co-hosted by them and the West Indies in June. The USA entered the tournament as probable minnows but stunned everyone with their performances on the field.

Their biggest win of the tournament came over Pakistan in a game that got tied and had to be decided via a super over. Set 19 runs to win in the super over, USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar bowled brilliantly to restrict their opponents to just 13/1, winning the game by a margin of five runs.

The USA also qualified for the Super 8 stage of the tournament, eventually getting knocked out.

#4 Bangladesh’s whitewash over Pakistan

One of the greatest moments of international cricket in 2024 was Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series whitewash over Pakistan in the latter country. Written off by almost everyone, Bangladesh rose from the ashes like a phoenix and tormented the Pakistanis with their superior skill in all three departments.

Played in August-September, Bangladesh beat Pakistan by ten wickets in the first match and 6 wickets in the second. Wicketkeeper-batters Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das led the charts for the Bangla Tigers with 216 and 194 runs, respectively, and ensured that their bowlers had enough runs on the board to defend.

Rahim’s 191 in the first Test in Rawalpindi will be spoken about for a long time to come.

#3 Pathum Nissanka’s ODI double-century

Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka rewrote the history books this year when he became the first batter from his country to score a double century in ODIs. Nissanka achieved the rare feat against Afghanistan in Pallekele in February earlier this year, scoring an unbeaten 210 off just 139 balls. He smashed 20 boundaries and eight sixes in this innings, putting the Afghan bowling attack to the sword.

Although Azmatullah Omarzai smashed a swashbuckling century for Afghanistan (149 not out off 115 balls), Sri Lanka won the match comfortably by 42 runs. Sanath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s highest-ever scorer in an ODI innings before Nissanka, with his 189 against India in Sharjah in 2000.

#2 India’s T20 World Cup win

India ended their T20 World Cup draught (they last won the title in 2007) with their second title win in June earlier this year. The Men in Blue picked up from where they had left in the ODI World Cup hosted by them last year and was unbeatable throughout this tournament. Rohit Sharma’s men seemed invincible and went through their entire campaign without being defeated.

India looked in danger of conceding the World Cup to South Africa in the final when the latter’s Heinrich Klaasen teed off (52 off 27 balls). However, Hardik Pandya, entrusted with bowling the final over of the game, did his country proud and bagged the dangerous David Miller’s wicket thanks largely to Suryakumar Yadav’s acrobatic catch at long off.

Led by Rohit Sharma, India eventually beat the Proteas by seven runs. Soon after, Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their T20I retirements.

#1 New Zealand’s historic Test series win in India

New Zealand won a Test series in India for the first time ever in October-November earlier this year. The Kiwis beat the Indians 3-0 in the three-match series and earned plaudits across the world for the whitewash. The visitors set the marker for an exciting series via an eight-wicket win in the first match in Bengaluru, which also saw India being bowled out for a measly 42 in their first innings.

In the second Test in Pune, New Zealand beat India by an even more convincing margin of 113 runs and won the series comfortably. The hosts looked uncomfortable against both the seamers and spinners of the Kiwis and were aided by a poor run of form from their top batters.

In the final Test of the series, in Mumbai, the Kiwis wrapped things up in style with a 25-run win.