After an 11-year drought, the Men in Blue have finally ascended to ICC glory, defeating South Africa by 7 runs in a thrilling Men’s T20 World Cup final 2024 at Barbados’ Kensington Oval on Saturday, June 29. Playing in their maiden World Cup final appearance, the Proteas could only manage to score 169/8 in a chase of 177 runs.

India’s batting innings

India’s batting innings began on a shaky note. Early setbacks saw the quick dismissals of key players, leaving the team in a precarious position. However, Virat Kohli, known for his ability to perform under pressure, stepped up to stabilize the innings.

Maharaj’s sensational 2nd over

Keshav Maharaj turned the game on its head with a sensational second over. He dismissed Rohit Sharma, who fell while attempting a sweep, followed by Rishabh Pant, who was caught off a top-edge. These early blows put India on the back foot.

Kohli and Axar’s crucial partnership

Kohli and Axar Patel then forged a crucial partnership to rebuild the innings. Their steady accumulation of runs and strategic rotation of strike kept India in the game. Axar’s aggression complemented Kohli’s calculated approach, helping to rebuild the innings.

Axar Patel’s aggression

Axar Patel’s innings was marked by aggressive shots and crucial boundaries. His ability to clear the boundary eased the pressure off Kohli and put India back on track. However, a brilliant piece of fielding resulted in Axar’s run-out, just as he was looking dangerous.

Kohli and Dube’s partnership

Following Axar’s dismissal, Shivam Dube joined Kohli at the crease. Their partnership further stabilized the innings, with Kohli bringing up his half-century in the process. Dube’s quick runs in the final overs were crucial in pushing India towards a competitive total.

The final Overs of India’s innings

The final overs saw some aggressive batting from Dube and Kohli, with India hammering 42 runs off the last three overs. Kohli’s dismissal in the 19th over brought an end to his brilliant knock, but his efforts had already ensured a challenging total of 176/7 for South Africa to chase.

South Africa’s chase

South Africa’s chase faltered early with the dismissal of Reeza Hendricks by Jasprit Bumrah in the second over. Arshdeep Singh then struck, removing skipper Aiden Markram with a sharp catch by Rishabh Pant in the third over, putting India in control.

The Stubbs and de Kock partnership

Tristan Stubbs and Quinton de Kock attempted to rebuild the innings with a robust 58-run partnership. However, their alliance was disrupted by Axar Patel, who struck to remove Stubbs in the ninth over. Stubbs’ dismissal for 31 off 21 balls was a turning point.

Klaasen’s big hits

Heinrich Klaasen then took the mantle, hitting big shots to keep South Africa in the game. His aggressive approach saw him notch up a quick fifty, but his dismissal by Hardik Pandya in the 16th over was crucial, as it shifted the momentum back in India’s favor.

Klaasen was in a murderous mood as he got to a 23-ball fifty, and took down Axar for a 24 run over. The equation was down to 30 off the last five overs, but India’s pacers managed to pull a real rabbit out of the bag. Hardik got Klaasen, then Bumrah knocked over Jansen as South Africa felt the pressure. Arshdeep then bowled a brilliant penultimate over, conceding just 4 and Hardik Pandya bowled like a champion to close out the game and give India a win by 7 runs.

The climax of the chase

The final overs were a test of nerves. Bumrah and Pandya delivered exceptional spells to keep the pressure on the Proteas. Bumrah’s dismissal of Marco Jansen and Pandya’s crucial over in the final moments ensured India’s victory by a narrow margin of 7 runs.

India’s bowling masterclass

India’s bowlers delivered a masterclass in the final. Bumrah’s early breakthroughs and Arshdeep Singh’s control were instrumental. The fielding efforts, including key catches by Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant, were equally significant in India’s triumph.