India crowned T20 World Cup 2024 champions for second time

• India wins their second T20 World Cup title.
• Hardik Pandya took crucial wickets.
• Maharaj and Nortje took two wickets each.

In a nail-biting final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, India clinched their second T20 World Cup title by narrowly defeating South Africa with a seven-run lead.

With this victory, India now stands alongside England and the West Indies as two-time champions, having secured their first title in 2007 against Pakistan.

India’s prospects looked dim, but a game-changing performance in the 16th and 17th overs by Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya shifted the momentum in favor of Rohit Sharma’s team.

The South African team, while chasing, stumbled early with the loss of Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram. However, a solid 68-run partnership between Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs brought them back into contention.

South Africa seemed poised for victory, especially after Heinrich Klaasen’s aggressive 22-run over against Axar Patel. But India’s resilient spirit emerged in the final overs, overturning the match’s direction.

Pandya’s dismissal of Klaasen, who had scored 52, initiated a collapse for the Proteas. Needing 16 runs in the final over, David Miller’s wicket fell to Pandya, complemented by Suryakumar Yadav’s remarkable catch, one of the tournament’s highlights.

South Africa ended their innings at 169-8. Pandya led the Indian bowling with three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh and Bumrah each took two, and Patel claimed one.

In the first innings, Virat Kohli was the standout batsman for India, scoring 76 runs off 59 balls, including six fours and two sixes.

India’s innings began with a strong start, scoring 15 runs in the opening over, courtesy of Kohli’s three boundaries off Marco Jensen. Despite Rohit Sharma’s initial aggression, he, along with Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav, fell early, leaving India at 34-3.

A crucial 72-run partnership between Kohli and Axar Patel steadied India’s innings. Patel’s aggressive play was cut short at 47 runs due to a run-out by de Kock.

Kohli reached his half-century in 48 balls, his slowest in T20Is, but soon accelerated, only to be dismissed by Jensen.

Shivam Dube’s quickfire 27 off 16 balls added to India’s tally. On the South African bowling front, Maharaj and Anrich Nortje each took two wickets, while Rabada and Jensen claimed one apiece.

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