India end 17-year drought, lift T20 World Cup

Barbados: India ended their 17-year drought to emerge victorious in the ICC T20 World Cup defeating South Africa by a narrow margin of seven runs in the finals held at Kensington Oval here yesterday.

This win marked a significant achievement for the Indian team and their ardent supporters.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India posted an impressive total of 176/7 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by Virat Kohli, who showcased his trademark resilience and class with a commanding 76 off 59 deliveries. His innings included 6 boundaries and 2 towering sixes, laying a solid foundation for India’s innings.

Axar Patel provided crucial support with a blistering 47 off just 31 balls, including 4 massive sixes that kept the momentum firmly in India’s grasp through the middle overs. Despite a stern challenge from South Africa’s bowling attack, led by Anrich Nortje (2/26) and Marco Jansen (1/49), Kohli and Axar’s aggressive stroke play ensured India reached a  formidable total.

South Africa’s chase saw them finish at 169/8, falling just short of the target. Heinrich Klaasen played a valiant knock, scoring a rapid 52 off 27 balls, while Quinton de Kock contributed 39 runs off 31 balls. Despite their efforts, South Africa could not keep up with the required run rate, especially in the face of India’s disciplined bowling attack.

The final over was a tense affair, with South Africa needing 16 runs to win. Hardik Pandya (3/20), tasked with bowling the crucial last over, delivered under pressure by dismissing key players Kagiso Rabada and David Miller (21 off 17). His exceptional bowling, along with Arshdeep Singh’s earlier efforts, played a pivotal role in India’s defense of their total.

Suryakumar Yadav’s fielding was also instrumental, taking crucial catches that stifled South Africa’s progress. Despite valiant efforts from Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock, South Africa fell short. Anrich Nortje and Keshav Maharaj were left at the crease, unable to secure the runs needed to surpass  India’s total.

India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 final is a testament to their resilience, teamwork and strategic brilliance. This win not only ends a 17-year T20 World Cup title drought but also solidifies India’s status as a powerhouse in international cricket.

The victory also ended the career of India’s two most resilient batter Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma, who announced their retirement from T20 internationals. The tournament also ended the tenure of Rahul Dravid as the coach of the senior men’s team. While Virat Kohli was declared as the ‘Man of the Match,’ Jasprit Bumrah walked away with the ‘Man of the Series’ award.