After 13 long years, the wait for World Cup glory finally ended for India, who edged past South Africa in the T20 final in Barbados on Saturday. Rohit Sharma and his men healed 1.4 billion hearts, who had witnessed a soul-crushing loss to Australia last year in the ODI World Cup final but have now found ecstasy.
Batting first, India rode on a partnership between Virat Kohli and Axar Patel. Kohli made 76 and was the glue that binded the Indian innings together, propelling the team to 176-7.
South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram early before Quinton de Kock and the South African middle order joined forces. Heinrich Klaasen hit a quickfire fifty.
The Proteas were cruising at that point, but the Indian pacers kept their cool. Jasprit Bumrah was sensational, and Hardik Pandya defended 16 runs in the last over to seal India's victory.
Now that the India vs South Africa final has ended, here's a look at the scorecard, award winners and top stats from the 2024 T20 World Cup game.
List of all award winners in India vs South Africa Final, 2024 T20 World Cup
While Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya were outstanding, Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award. The modern-day legend looked in supreme touch from the start, belting Jansen for three fours in the opening over.
While 76 runs at a strike rate of under 129 doesn’t boast explosiveness, Kohli’s innings transcended stats and was invaluable to India’s World Cup glory.
During the post match award ceremony, he announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game!
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (76 off 59)
India vs South Africa, Final Scorecard
Rohit and Kohli started briskly until Keshav Maharaj sent back both the Indian skipper and Rishabh Pant within a span of three balls.
A 72-run partnership between Kohli and Axar Patel for the fourth wicket rescued India out of early trouble. Virat Kohli top-scored with 76, while Shivam Dube came up with a useful 16-ball 27. Maharaj and Anrich Nortje took two wickets each.
For South Africa, Heinrich Klaasen made a superlative 27-ball 52. He hammered five sixes, but his knock went in vain. Quinton de Kock made 39 runs as the Proteas fell seven runs short.
Hardik Pandya was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh chipped in with 2-20.
IND vs SA, 2024 T20 World Cup: Top records and stats emerging from India vs South Africa Final match
Team India scripted history in Barbados. It was a unforgettable match that also saw some records. Here are some of the top stats emerging from the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup:
- Virat Kohli has the most Player of the Match awards in T20Is. It was his 16th award in 125 matches.
- With their triumph, India have become the third nation to win the T20 World Cup twice. The West Indies and England have done it previously, while India have tasted glory aftet their success in the inaugural edition in 2007.
- Going unbeaten throughout the competition, this is India's joint-longest unbeaten streak in T20 internationals. India have won 12 games since November 2021.
- Rohit Sharma has won 50 T20I matches as captain but will be unable to add to his tally, as he has anniunced his T20I retirement.
- Jasprit Bumrah's heroics throughout the tournament saw him end up with a stupendous economy rate of 4.17. This is the best economy rate in a T20 World Cup, beating Sunil Narine's 4.60 in 2014.
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