India beat South Africa in a last-over thriller to clinch the 2024 T20 World Cup title with a seven-run win in the final on Saturday.
Led by the brilliant Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, Indian bowlers defended 177 in Bridgetown after Virat Kohli’s fighting 76 off 59 balls.
Chasing 177, South Africa were in the drivers seat at 151 for four in 16 overs with Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27 balls) and David Miller (21 off 17 balls) in the middle as the Proteas needed just 26 runs off 24 balls.
But Pandya (3-0-20-3) brought Indian back into the contest by removing Klaasen in the first ball of the next over.
Then Bumrah (4-0-18-2) bowled a superb over which was followed by a terrific penultimate over of the innings from Arshdeep Singh (4-0-20-2).
With South Africa needing 16 off the final over, Pandya took the ball and got the important wicket of Miller in the first ball when Suryakumar Yadav took a stunning catch in the long-on boundary.
Pandya and India then held their nerve in the dramatic final over to end their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy.
This was India’s second T20 World Cup title, having won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007.
Earlier, Kohli scored a fighting half-century (76 off 59 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) as India overcame early setbacks to post 176 for seven.
India, after winning the toss and electing to bat, were reduced to 34 for three in the fifth over as skipper Rohit Sharma (9), Rishabh Pant (0) and Suryakumar (3) fell early.
But Kohli and Axar Patel (47 off 31 balls) revived India’s hopes with their fine partnership as Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls) also produced a crucial cameo.
For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj (3-0-23-2) and Anrich Nortje (4-0-26-2) took two wickets each.