Virat Kohli’s 59-ball-76 and Hardik Pandya’s 3 vital wickets take India to their 2nd ICC T20 title in Barbados.
India ended their 13-year wait for an ICC Cricket World Cup prize when they beat South Africa by 7 runs to lift the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in a thrilling last at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
South Africa were left sad after coming close to winning their maiden world title however were ultimately notable to get over the line versus a strong Indian bowling lineup in a match that swayed from end to end on Saturday.
Chasing 177 to win, the Proteas appeared in control when they required 71 runs off 45 balls with 6 wickets in hand and the set of Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen leading their chase.
India, nevertheless, had not provided up on their opportunity of winning their 2nd T20 World Cup.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya stepped up to eliminate Klaasen in his veryfirst over and followed it up with the vital wicket of David Miller, courtesy of a spectacular catch on the long off border by Suryakumar Yadav.
Bumrah, too, lived up to his credibility of answering his captain’s call and breaking collaborations at the most important minutes in the match.
While Pandya might haveactually eliminated the unsafe Klaasen, it was Bumrah’s in-swinging shipment to bowl out Marco Jansen that opened the gates for India.
Virat Kohli comes out of the shadows to rescue India
But long before the match reached its thrilling ending, it was India’s limited-overs batting hero who assisted his side post a tough target for South Africa.
When India’s captain and their leading run scorer in the competition Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the 2nd over, South Africa looked rather delighted with their efforts. And when they sentout back the hazardous Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav before 5 overs were finished, the Proteas were bounding around the Kensington Oval with pleasure.
What they did not account for, though, was the male who has pulled India out of numerous celebrations in ICC World Cups over the past 10 years.
After all the talk about Virat Kohli’s absence of runs in the competition, it was the 35-year-old who stood up when it mattered the themajorityof.
He started with 2 fours, thanks to Jansen’s worried start to the innings, and neverever looked back. As wickets fell around him in the veryfirst 5 overs, Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking over with songs and doubles.
At the other end, Axar Patel took on the South African bowlers after being promoted in the batting order to present a left-hand right-hand batting mix and take on the bowlers.
The high all-rounder hit 4 sixes and one 4 in his 31-ball-47 that brought India’s run rate back on track. But when Patel was dismissed to peg India’s limit count, Kohli stepped o