India ended their 11-year wait for the ICC trophy after beating South Africa by 7 runs in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados on Saturday. Virat Kohli's big fifty helped India post a challenging total of 176/7 and then Jasprit Bumrah's magical spell in death overs restricted the Proteas to 169/8.
Virat Kohli ended his poor form by smashing 76 runs off 59 balls as India posted the biggest-ever total in the tournament finals. South Africa almost pulled off a win after Heinrich Klaasen's 22-ball fifty but late heroics from a pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh led India to their second T20 World Cup title.
Hardik Pandya successfully defended 16 runs in the last over with big wickets of David Miller and Kagiso Rabada's. Suryakumar Yadav pulled off a stunning match-winning catch at long-off to dismiss David Miller in the last over.
Rohit won the crucial toss and elected to bat first with both teams making no changes to their playing elevens. After struggling for runs throughout the tournament, Virat smashes three fours off Marco Jansen in the very first over to declare his intentions for a big innings.
The Proteas quickly make a comeback with the veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj removing Rohit and Rishabh Pant in the second over. Kagiso Rabada further stunned Indian fans with Suryakumar Yadav's priceless wicket in the fifth over.
But Kohli kept the scoreboard moving with the promoted Axar Patel and the duo added a match-defining 72 runs for the fourth wicket. Axar missed his maiden World Cup fifty by three runs but Kohli ended his poor run by smashing 76 runs off 59 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.
South Africa tried to make a late comeback but struggling Shivam Dube contributed with a quick cameo of 27 runs off 16 balls to lead India to a big total. Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje picked two wickets each for the Proteas but the likes of Rabada and Jansen proved costly.
Chasing a record total, South Africa lost their opener Reeza Hendricks in the second over. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a sensational yorker to remove Reeza and then Arshdeep Singh dismissed opponent skipper Aiden Markram in the next over to keep India in the driving seat.
South Africa made an impressive comeback with Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs adding 58 runs for the third wicket. But it was a fiery knock of 52 off 27 balls from Heinrich Klaasen that took the game to the last over.
Klaasen smashed four boundaries off Axar Patel in the 15th over as South African camp started celebrating early with 26 runs needed in the last 24 balls. India found a breakthrough with Hardik Pandya removing Jansen in the 17th over and then Bumrah and Arshdeep bowled wicket-taking overs to put India in a comfortable position going into the final over.
Hardik bowled the deciding over with David Miller on a strike. Miller goes for a six over long-off but Suryakumar pulled a sensational catch over the ropes to end South Africa's slim hopes. Hardik then conceded a four but bowled a match-winning over to lead India to bursting celebrations.
Virat Kohli bagged the Player of the Match award for his brilliant fifty while Jasprit Bumrah clinched the prestigious Player of the Tournament award for taking 15 wickets in eight innings at an amazing economy rate of 4.17.
South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
