India edge S Africa in thriller to win T20 World Cup title

BRIDGETOWN (Barbados): South Africa threw away the initiative at the deciding moment to hand India the T20 World Cup 2024 title following a nail-biting finish at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.

Requiring 26 of just 23 balls with six wickets in hand, South Africa panicked under scoreboard pressure to give India their second T20 World Cup title against the run of play. India’s 13-year wait for no world cricket title ended as they won the final by seven runs, showing some exceptional fighting power to restrict South Africa to 169 for 8 aching 177 for win.

India stayed unbeaten throughout the tournament and was at the brink of losing the final when they fought back through Jasprit Bumrah’s special over, his fourth that saw him conceding just 2 runs and taking the wicket of Marco Jansen (2). The over was followed by a spectacular catch of David Miller (21) at boundary by Suryakumar Yadav that proved as the last nail in South Africa’s coffin.

It was India’s second T20 World Cup title following the inaugural Trophy in 2007, winning by almost the same margin against Pakistan at Johannesburg.

Heinrich Klaasen’s (52) sensational fifty of just 23 deliveries set the stage for South Africa to chase 177. Once he lost his wicket, chasing a wide ball of Hardik Pandya (3-20), South Africa lost the momentum as batsmen started playing dots and ultimately conceded the title to India from virtual winning position.

Man of the final Kohli announced his retirement saying it was his dream to win the title during his last appearance. “It was my last T20 World Cup and last T20 match. I wanted to finish it off with a win. It has been a long wait since it is my sixth T20 World Cup appearance. The satisfying thing is we have won the World Cup.”

Jasprit Bumrah was declared the Player of T20 World Cup. “To put up a win like this gives you incredible feeling. We were down and out at one stage but came back strongly to win the title,” Bumrah said.

Hardik Pandya (3-20) and Arshdeep Singh (2-20) were also brilliant with the ball.

Earlier, India set the highest-ever T20 World Cup final score of 178 for South Africa to chase. India lost some quick wickets but recovered well to reach 177 for 7 with Anrich Nortje (2-26) picking up two wickets in the last over.

By the time Power Play ended, India reached 45 for 3. Virat Kohli struck some exciting shots upfront to get things going rapidly. Then two wickets in one over by Keshav Maharaj pegged back India’s progress. Rohit Sharma (9) swept a ball straight into the hands of Klaasen and Rishat Pant (0) mistimed one to be caught by Quinton de Kock. When dangerous Suryakumar Yadav (3) was caught at the boundary by Klaasen of Rabada, India were left struggling at 34 for 3 in the 5th over. Kohli and Axar Patel (47) then took over. Both took the attack back to South Africa bowlers. The pair put on 62 runs for the fourth wicket stand in nine overs to get the runs-scoring tempo back on the track.

Kohli who had been struggling with the bat finally got going when it mattered striking two sixes and six fours during his 59-ball innings. Axar also gave a good exhibition of his all-round prowess. His innings gave a real impetus to the Indian innings, striking four sixes in the process. Marco Jansen (1-49) was too expensive and ordinary. He even overstepped at crucial times, offering Indian batsmen the luxury to hit out. “It was a chaseable target. The element of scoreboard pressure came to us at the deciding moment. Before that we were well on target to chase it easily,” South Africa captain Aiden Markram said.

Score: India 176 for 7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 76, Axar Patel 47, Shivam Dube 27, Anrich Nortje 2-26, Keshav Maharaj 2-23, Kagiso Rabada 1-36)

South Africa 169 for 8 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 52, Quinton de Kock 39, Tristen Stubbs 31, Hardik Pandya 3-20, Jasprit Bumrah 2-18, Arshdeep Singh 2-20)

Man of the Match (Final): Virat Kohli

Man of the T20 World Cup: Jasprit Bumrah