India are T20 world champions once again, ending a 17-year wait to join West Indies and England as the only teams to win the Men’s T20 World Cup twice. The grand finale in Barbados was electrifying, with Indian players in ecstasy and the field flooded by the jubilant dugout. India’s 176/7 is the highest team total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final, showcasing their batting prowess on the big stage.

The crowd roared while South Africa faced heartbreak once more. Rohit Sharma lifted the trophy he first won as a rookie India player back in 2007, and fireworks lit up the sky. It was a triumph for the best team in the competition, capped by a thrilling final.

Key moments in India’s innings

India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. However, India’s top order struggled initially. Rohit Sharma departed early after collecting a couple of consecutive fours off Keshav Maharaj in the second over. Maharaj responded well by having Rohit caught at square leg, followed by the dismissal of Rishabh Pant, leaving India at 23/2. Suryakumar Yadav also fell to the sweep shot, leaving India three down inside the powerplay at 45/3.

Virat Kohli and Axar Patel’s on point partnership

Virat Kohli and Axar Patel then stabilized the innings. Kohli, who hit three elegant boundaries off Marco Jansen in the opening over, shifted gears during the middle overs. This was the fifth edition of the T20 World Cup where Virat Kohli scored 150 or more runs. Only Mahela Jayawardene has matched this feat, with no one else surpassing it.

Axar Patel played a crucial knock, collecting a six each from Aiden Markram, Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi. The highlight of Axar’s innings was a straight six off Rabada. Kohli and Axar’s partnership allowed India to post the highest total in a T20 World Cup final, with Kohli scoring 76 off 59 and Axar contributing 47 off 31. Despite Axar being run out in an unfortunate manner, their efforts propelled India to 176/7.

South Africa’s response and Klassen’s heroics

In response, South Africa faced early setbacks with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Reeza Hendricks in the powerplay. Despite losing early wickets, Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs put up a 58-run stand, with Stubbs scoring 52 off 27. Heinrich Klaasen then played a breathtaking knock, hitting several boundaries and reducing the asking rate to a run a ball.

Klaasen’s aggressive batting put South Africa in a strong position, but Rohit Sharma’s tactical decisions turned the tide. Not opting for Bumrah, Sharma brought Axar Patel into the attack, who conceded crucial runs. With South Africa needing 20 runs off the last 12 balls, Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant penultimate over, taking a wicket and giving away only six runs. Arshdeep Singh equalled Fazalhaq Farooqi’s record for the most wickets in a single T20 World Cup edition, highlighting his impact in the tournament.

The dramatic final over fit Hardik Pandya

The equation came down to 16 runs needed off the last six balls. Hardik Pandya, who had been criticized in recent months, was handed the ball for the final over. On the first delivery, Suryakumar Yadav took a sensational relay catch at long-off to dismiss David Miller, putting India on the brink of victory. Pandya held his nerve, taking another wicket and conceding just eight runs in the over, ensuring India won by seven runs.

Pandya’s final over capped a remarkable comeback for India. His performance, along with Bumrah’s brilliance and Suryakumar’s fielding, were instrumental in securing India’s first ICC trophy since 2013.

After the match, Virat Kohli, who was part of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, announced his retirement from T20 cricket. “It’s time for the next generation to take over. It was an open secret and I would have announced it even if we would have lost,” Kohli said. His departure marked the end of an era for Indian cricket.

Over the years, the T20 World Cup has seen several standout performers being honored as the Player of the Tournament. Shahid Afridi, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kevin Pietersen, Shane Watson, and David Warner have all earned this prestigious title. Virat Kohli, renowned for his consistency and match-winning prowess, uniquely won this accolade twice, underscoring his dominance in the format. Recently, Sam Curran added his name to this illustrious list. In the latest edition, Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional performances earned him the title, cementing his status as one of the premier bowlers in T20 cricket.

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The sense of relief and jubilation was evident on the faces of Indian players, especially Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Rohit, emotionally exhausted, shared a heartfelt moment with his wife Ritika, while Pandya broke down in tears, receiving a kiss from Rohit. The victory was also a fitting farewell for head coach Rahul Dravid. Rohit Sharma became the first captain to win 50 T20I matches, setting a new benchmark for leadership in the format.

India’s performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup was exceptional, with a batting average of 25.55 and a bowling average of 14.94. Their batting run rate stood at 7.98, while their bowling economy rate was an impressive 6.67. India also achieved their longest winning streaks in T20Is, with 12 consecutive wins from November 2021 to February 2022 and another ongoing streak of 12 wins from December 2023 to June 2024.

In the 2024 T20 World Cup, India set a record for most wins in a single edition, securing eight victories, a feat matched by South Africa in the same tournament. Previous records included six wins by Sri Lanka in 2009 and Australia in 2010 and 2021.

India’s triumph was a testament to the joint efforts of its star players, strategic leadership, and unyielding determination. The match in Barbados will be remembered as one of the most thrilling finals in T20 World Cup history.