Team India ended their long-standing ICC trophy drought as they defeated South Africa by seven runs to lift the T20 World Cup 2024 title in Barbados on Saturday (June 29).
Opting to bat first, the Men in Blue posted a stiff total of 176/7 in on the board, courtesy of good knocks from Virat Kohli (76 off 59) and Akshar Patel (47 off 31). Shivam Dube also played a brilliant cameo of 16-ball 27 in the death overs.
In reply, South Africa were cruising when Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) was at the crease. After Klaasen’s wicket, however, they lost the plot as the Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah (2-18), Hardik Pandya (3-20) and Arshdeep Singh (2-20) pulled things back in the last five overs to restrict the Proteas to 169/8 in 20 overs.
After the historic win, emotions ran high in the Indian camp as many players were seen shedding tears on the ground.
India skipper Rohit Sharma looked extremely emotional as well. He hoisted the national flag on the ground and also posed for a special photograph with star batter Virat Kohli and the T20 World Cup trophy. The two Indian cricket stalwarts smiled for the photograph holding the tricolour.
Here’s the video:
Following the final, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also announced their retirement from T20Is, paving the way for young generation to take the Indian team forward in the shortest format of the game.
