The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 -West Indies and USA, ended on a very high note as the two undefeated teams South Africa and India locked horns against each other in the biggest stage, the T20 World Cup Finals.
The stage was set for both the teams as South Africa were playing their first ever World Cup final since the start of their cricket history. On the other hand, India, who are known to always be the favourites while entering any multinational tournaments were playing their third back-to-back ICC finals within a year including World Test Championship Final in 2023, ODI World Cup Final 2023 and now the T20 World Cup Final 2024.
The pressure was on both the teams with respect to the different situation faced by both the nations in the past. However the day arrived and India won the toss and elected to bat first as they did the same thing throughout the whole tournament. The South African captain Aiden Markram also expressed his desire to bat first.
India started off with a flyer start with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma smashing boundaries in the first 2 overs until the Indian Skipper fell after scoring back to back boundaries to Keshav Maharaj and South Africa pulled things back with Keshav Maharaj picking back-to-back wickets of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant.
Soon even Surya Kumar Yadav was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada. India were pushed at the back foot by losing 3 wickets within the power play in quick session. At this moment it looked as if the South Africa were all over the Indian batting lineup and they would do nothing wrong in their first over World Cup final appearance.
But, then, Virat Kohli and Axar Patel held their nerves and stitched a very good partnership after the fall of the 3 wickets. Axar Patel took the attacking route in this partnership while Virat Kohli played an anchor role. After a good partnership Axar Patel was run out courtesy of a brilliant run out by Quinton de kock. Promising partnership off 72(54) came to an end.
The death over attacking approach of the Indian batsman pushed India to a defendable score off 176 for the loss of 7 wickets. Virat Kohli with the score of 76 off 59 balls, Axar Patel 47 off 31 balls, Shivam Dube 27 off 16 balls and Hardik Pandya with a 2 ball 5.
A target of 177 to chase to win their first ever World Cup South Africa started off with the poor start. Jasprit Bumrah drew the first blood for India by an absolute Ripper to dismiss Reeza Hendricks and Arshdeep sent the South African captain Aiden Markram back to the pavilion putting South Africa under a lot of trouble South Africa had lost had lost two wickets for the score of just 12.
Tristan Stubbs and Quinton de kock stitched a very good partnership of 58 runs in 38 balls. Tristan Stubbs was dismissed by Axar Patel and India had pulled themselves back into the game. Quinton de kock also was dismissed soon and India felt they can drag the game now.
But then came an over where Henrich Klaasen hit 22 runs off Axar Patel over and reached to his 50 in just 23 balls bringing South Africa close to their first ever World Cup which looked quite possible as the equation was down for just a run a ball 30 with huge advantage of 6 wickets still left for SA.
South Africa were sensing a victory and celebrating, but what hit them back will haunt them for ages to come. With just 30 needed in 30 balls Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant over giving away just 4 runs and the next over Hardik Pandya dismissed Klaasen giving them some small hope.
The game was again back with a neck to neck competition. But again the master of bowling Jasprit Bumrah widen the gap for South Africa by taking a crucial Wicket and giving away just 2 runs. This brought India right back in the game and the pressure was back again on the South Africans.
The pressure increased more when the 19th over by Arshdeep Singh too went economically giving away nothing to South Africa and India had made a memorable comeback in the biggest of stages, in the World Cup Final.
The equation for the last over to win the World Cup for both the teams was down to 16 off 6 balls. It was the game worthy of a World Cup Final, a thriller in a making.
Hardik Pandya was given the responsibility to do it for India and for South Africa it was all on David Miller hands as he was the last recognised batsman standing for South Africa.
The last over started with a drama and a heroic World Cup winning catch by Surya Kumar Yadav almost had sealed the match for India, and yes the catch was just enough as India had made an historic comeback after being down and out in the World Cup Final to snatch the World Cup from the hands of the Proteas Men and India went on to win the T20 World Cup for the second time after 17 long years and recent back to back heartbreaks all in just one year.
India ended their ICC Trophy Drought after 11 years which they had won in the form of Champions Trophy way back in 2013. With this India also became the first team in the World to win the ICC T20 World Cup without loosing a single match in the tournament. A Feat to Relish!!
Player of The Match
- Rahul Dravid -> Ended his tenure as Indian Coach.
- Virat Kohli -> T20I Retirement.
- Rohit Sharma -> T20I Retirement.
- Ravindra Jadeja -> T20I Retirement.
Player of The Tournament
4.17 -> Jasprit Bumrah (2024)
4.60 -> Sunil Narine (2014)
5.20 -> Wanindu Hasarnaga (2021)
5.32 -> Shahid Afridi (2009)
5.33 -> Daniel Vettori (2007)
