India win T20 World Cup 2024 title to break 11-year ICC trophy jinx

India defeated South Africa by seven runs to clinch their second T20 World Cup title after winning the final of the 2024 edition in Barbados on Saturday. This is India’s first ICC title win since the 2013 Champions Trophy victory.

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In a thrilling final at Barbados, Hardik Pandya successfully defended 16 runs off the last over which also included Suryakumar Yadav’s mind-blowing catch to dismiss David Miller as South Africa were restricted to 169/8, chasing a target of 177.

The real turning point of the match, however, came in the 15th over when South Africa were cruising at 147/4 and Heinrich Klaasen had just smashed Axar Patel for 22 runs in an over that also included two wide balls. With the hopes of an ICC title fast diminishing, India captain Rohit Sharma threw the ball to Jasprit Bumrah for his last two overs and the ace pacer breathed new life into India’s defence with a stunning spell in which he gave away just six runs and dismissed Marco Jansen.

Sandwiched between Bumrah’s two overs was Pandya taking Klaasen’s wicket as the Proteas started to lose steam despite being in the ascendancy. By the time Bumrah finished his over, 20 was still needed for South Africa and they could only manage 12 more runs.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 🫂💙#T20WorldCupFinal | #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/21NyguiiKj

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 29, 2024

The Proteas also had a poor start to the chase when they lost Reeza Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram in the powerplay. But Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs forged a 58-run stand for the third wicket and revived their hopes.

South Africa lost Stubbs in the ninth over and De Kock in the 13th, but Klaasen scored a fifty in just 23 balls to lead South Africa’s fightback.

INDIANS first! 🇮🇳 What a fine show by Hardik in the last over today! ❤️

Appreciation by the whole of India - Courtesy, the skipper! 🤗 pic.twitter.com/yDEvMxtHcz

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 29, 2024

Earlier, India had won the toss and opted to bat. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli got off to a brisk start but the Men in Blue lost their skipper, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav in the powerplay. India, however, recovered from the early blows with Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47) forging 73 runs for the fourth wicket. While scored his first fifty of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Shivam Dube added invaluable 27 runs to lead India to 171/7 from 20 overs.