India has secured their second T20 World Cup title, their first since 2007, with a nerve-wracking seven-run victory over South Africa in Barbados. The match featured remarkable death bowling and a sensational catch from Suryakumar Yadav.
In a historic final, South Africa appeared on track to reach their target of 177 after Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive 52 off 27 balls reduced the requirement to 30 runs from 30 balls. However, India’s bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah (2-18) and Hardik Pandya (3-20), delivered under pressure. Bumrah’s economical overs and Pandya’s crucial wicket of Klaasen shifted the momentum back to India.
The highlight of the match came when David Miller thought he had hit a six off a full toss from Pandya, only for Suryakumar Yadav to make an extraordinary catch at long-off. Yadav caught the ball, threw it back into play as he was about to cross the boundary, and then reclaimed it once he was back on the field. This jaw-dropping moment was pivotal in securing India’s victory.
South Africa managed only eight runs in the final over, finishing at 169-8. This win makes India the first team to go unbeaten through the entire Men’s T20 World Cup tournament. The last time India won a global ICC event was the 2013 Champions Trophy, with their previous World Cup triumph in the 2011 50-over edition.
Earlier, Virat Kohli, in his final T20I, scored a crucial 76 off 59 balls, helping India to a total of 176-7. Despite early setbacks with the dismissals of key players like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, Kohli’s performance, along with Axar Patel’s 47 off 31, stabilized India’s innings.
South Africa’s chase started poorly, with Reeza Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram dismissed early. Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs offered some resistance with a quick-fire partnership, but once they fell, the pressure mounted. Klaasen and Miller kept South Africa in contention until the final overs, but Bumrah’s and Pandya’s disciplined bowling sealed the win for India.
The victory is especially significant for Virat Kohli, marking a triumphant end to his T20 international career.
What’s Next?
The next major event in men’s cricket is the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, with teams like India, South Africa, England, and Australia set to compete. Following that, another T20 World Cup will take place in India and Bangladesh in early 2026.
Additionally, the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup will be hosted by Bangladesh, starting on October 3rd and concluding on October 20th in Dhaka.
Women’s T20 World Cup Groups:
- Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Scotland
Credit: Sky Sports
