India strangle South Africa to clinch victory in thrilling T20 World Cup final

India snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a heart-stopping T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa at the Kensington Oval Barbados, on Saturday.

Defeating Proteas by seven runs, Rohit Sharma and Co joined England and the West Indies to win the T20 World Cup title two times after winning their first in 2007 by defeating Pakistan in the final.

The Men in Blue not only clinched their second T20 World Cup win, but also shattered the Proteas' dreams of winning maiden title at the mega-tournament.

The defeat was almost a certainty for India but Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya turned the tide for Rohit Sharma’s side in the 16th and 17th over.

Chasing the target, the Proteas had a difficult as they lost two wickets, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram, but Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs’ 68-run partnership put South Africa back in the driving seat.

South Africa had everything in their hands as Heinrich Klaasen took Axar Patel to the cleaners and smashed him for 22 runs in the 15th over. The Proteas looked the clear favourites to win the clash but things were taken from them in the last few overs by India’s never-give-up attitude.

Pandya removed Klaasen on 52 runs which started South Africa’s troubles. The Proteas required 16 runs in the last over and David Miller was removed by Pandya on the first ball of the final over with Suryakumar Yadav taking one of the best matches of the tournament.

The Proteas concluded their innings at 169-8 in the allocated overs. For India, Pandya bagged three, Arshdeep and Bumrah picked two and Patel got one wicket to his name.

Earlier in the first innings, Virat Kohli top-scored for the Indian team as he scored 76 runs on 59 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.

India started as brilliantly as they had scored 15 runs in the first over with Kohli scoring three fours to Marco Jensen. Rohit Sharma continued India’s aggressive intent but after scoring two boundaries to Keshav Maharaj in the second over, the Indian skipper lost his wicket.

Soon after the 37-year-old’s dismissal, wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant, too, lost his wicket in the same over.

India met with another blow when Kagiso Rabada removed Suryakumar Yadav, leaving the Blues 34-3 in 4.3 overs. It looked like an early collapse for Sharma’s side but a 72-run partnership between Kohli and Axar Patel brought the much-needed breakthrough for them.

Patel was hitting sixes and leading the charge against the Proteas but he lost his wicket in an uncertain way as Quinton de Kock ran him out for 47 runs.

Kohli continued to attack and soon completed his half-century on 48 balls, which was the slowest in T20Is. However, right after his 50, the 35-year-old accelerated innings and lost his wicket to Jesnen.

Shivam Dube contributed a valuable 27 runs on 16 balls. For Africa, Maharaj and Anrich Nortje picked two wickets each while Rabada and Jensen bagged one each.

Playing XIs

India: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Heinrich Klaasen, 5 David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi.