India beats South Africa to win the T20 Cricket World Cup

India won the Twenty20 World Cup after a thrilling victory of seven runs over South Africa. This was India’s 1st title in 13 years.

Jun 30, 2024 12:41 PM

Jun 30, 2024, 08:41 AM ET

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — India won Saturday’s Twenty20 World Cup Final with a thrilling 7-run win against South Africa.

Heinrich Klaasen’s ferocious batting of 52 runs off just 27 balls was sufficient to win South Africa their first ICC final. To win, they needed to score 30 runs per ball.

Jasprit Sing and Arshdeep Pandya, who both took seven wickets each, reduced South Africa to 169-8 during the final overs.

Kohli’s half-century – which he later revealed was his last T20 International – helped India to reach 176-7 after Rohit Sharma had won the toss and chosen to bat.

“Guys, you know how to react when there is pressure,” said Sharma after the match. Today is a good example of the way [we] worked together with our backs up against the wall. This is what we really wanted… We are proud of our players and management.

This was India’s second T20 World Cup, but their first in 13 years. The frustration had been increasing. India lost the World Test Championship as well as the World Cup 50 over final at home, within the last year.

South Africa is in a much worse situation than India. India was also unbeaten and had hoped to break its World Cup curse.

After 15 overs of left-arm spinning Axar, South Africa reached 147-4 when Klaasen struck three sixes. India lost 24 runs as a result.

Bumrah’s pace-ace conceded only six runs in the next two overs and Pandya caught Klaasen from behind.

David Miller did not strike the ball very much, despite scoring 21 runs. Singh, a left-arm fast bowler, only conceded 4 runs in his penultimate delivery. Pandya had 16 extra runs to defend in Pandya’s penultimate over.

Suryakumar Yadav was the winner off Pandya’s first ball. The final result was sealed with a brilliant juggling catch on the edge of the long-off.

“Gutted,” South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram, said. It hurts quite a lot, but I am incredibly proud. As things move fast in the backend we never relaxed. But we were able to prove that we were worthy finalist.

Kohli scored 76 off 59 balls, with six fours and two sixes. This was after India had struggled to 34-3 in the first five deliveries.

Patel, who has been promoted to No. 5, hit four sixes during his quick 47 from 31 balls. He put India on track with a 72 run partnership with Kohli.

Kohli’s half-century was achieved in 48 balls, during the 17th Over. The pace was increased by hitting sixes on Kagiso Jasen (1-36 ). Kohli caught in the deep with the penultimate delivery

Kohli said that this would be his last T20 World Cup, and we wanted to achieve these goals. “The next generation is prepared to take over. The team will be led by some amazing players. “

Sharma, 37, scored 4,231 runs in 159 matches for India, including five hundreds. He won the first T20 World Cup in 2007. Since then, he has taken part in every T20 World Cup.

It was what I wanted. I wanted to win and thank everyone. “

Anrich nortje (2-26) bowled Shivam Dube’s final over (27 off 16 ball), and India scored 58 runs in five overs.

Kohli gave India an excellent start by hitting Jansen (a left-arm quick-bowler) for three boundaries in the first over. Sharma hit Keshav Maharaj (2-23), a left arm spinning left-arm left-arm bowler, for two fours within his first two deliveries.

Maharaj struck twice in his first over. Klaasen caught Sharma at square leg with a brilliant catching and Rishabh pan hit the toe of the bat while attempting a reverse sweep and ballooned a easy catch behind wickets.

Klaasen was brilliant again in the outfield. He caught Yadav at fine leg, after Rabada had pitched a short ball. Patel and Kohli rebuilt the innings.

Quinton deKock’s direct throw was brilliant. Patel is out. He hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end after intercepting Kohli’s flick.