India's third T20 World Cup crown was effectively sealed when they posted 255 in the final. But there was still time for Jasprit Bumrah to stamp his class on a game that again laid bare just how far batting has come in the format. After suffocating England with the mastery of his death bowling in the semi-final, he unfurled a series of slower balls, one delivered with a late, door-knob turning motion at release, to walk away with career-best T20I figures of 4 for 15.

Having claimed the Player of the Tournament award 21 months ago, Bumrah now added the Player of the Match in the final of this T20 World Cup edition, reaffirming his status as the game's foremost bowler. This victory carried extra resonance too: it came in Ahmedabad, the ground.

where his cricketing journey began and one that had brought him pain on November 19, 2023, in the ODI World Cup final against Australia.

"It feels extremely special because I've played one final at my home venue and you know, couldn't win that one, but this one feels really special. It couldn't be (more) special than this to win Man of the Match here, World Cup final, started my cricket here. Doesn't get better than this," Bumrah said at the presentation ceremony after India's dominant 96-run win.

The pace ace revealed the thought process behind unleashing the slower ball to devastating effect. It was the same delivery he had used with the first ball of his spell against England at the Wankhede Stadium in the semifinal to dismiss Harry Brook. This time too, his opening ball did the trick, with Rachin Ravindra skying an attempted pick-up shot.

"I was really motivated. I was really clear. I knew what I wanted to do. The wicket was a flat one, so I've played all my cricket here, so I used all my experience. Today was a wonderful day where all the execution went as per plan. So, yeah, really happy, really grateful. God is really kind," Bumrah said.

"Because of the experience, because I've played on belters over here, I have also seen the other team, how they were bowling. I have learnt over here when you are trying to bowl too fast, it gets easier. Shot making gets easier. Sometimes the ball skids on. So, keep being smart, keep changing your pace, you know, and expecting what the batsman is trying to do. So, all of these things really help you and clarity while execution also helps."

Bumrah also offered a brief peek into his mindset coming into the tournament, which he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets at a remarkable economy rate of 6.21.

"So, before this tournament, I was in that zone where I felt I was trying too hard because I was bowling really well, but somewhere or the other way, I was feeling that maybe I'm trying too hard," he said.

"But in this format, I let the game come to me. I was clear. I used to prepare and then read the situation and believe in myself. That is what I tried to do in this tournament. It worked really well for me. So, yeah, my individual assessment of my game has always been my strength. So, yeah, couldn't be more happy.

"Everybody in the bowling group was very clear. Whenever we've discussed, they always come up with their options. And whenever there's some communication that is to be needed, we always did that. We kept calm. We were never panicking, even if sometimes in the tournament, the games got close like the last one, we never panicked. We always felt that we keep our head above the water and try to hold our nerve. Teams that do that win the tournament and we are very happy that we did it. It's really, really special. The crowd was really brilliant. They were behind us. They supported us throughout. And yeah, really, really happy and really thankful for all the support."