Visitors India won the four-match T20I series against the hosts South Africa by 3-1 after winning the series decider by 135 runs at Johannesburg. 

After the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to bat first, India scored their second-highest T20I total of 283/1 in 20 overs. In reply, South Africa were all out for 148 runs. 

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scored centuries

The first innings of the match only experienced India’s dominant batting performance. Openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma had a 73-run partnership inside the powerplay, where Sharma was out after scoring 36 off 18 balls with the help of two fours and four sixes. 

Then Samson and Tilak Varma dominated over all the Proteas bowlers. Samson and Varma had a 201-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket as both completed their centuries. 

Samson scored his third T20I century and remained not out on 109 off 56 balls with the help of six fours and nine sixes. Meanwhile, Varma scored centuries in two consecutive T20I innings and scored 120 not out off 47 balls with the help of nine fours and 10 sixes. 

Arshdeep Singh made the South African top orders clueless

South Africa were down to 10/4 in just the third over. The left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh picked up three wickets as the Proteas had no answers against Arshdeep’s incredible new-ball swings. 

While the opener Reeza Hendricks was bowled by Arshdeep for a duck on the third ball of the innings, Hardik Pandya took another opener Ryan Rickelton (1) in the next over. In the third over, Arshdeep dismissed captain Aiden Markram (8) and Heinrich Klaasen (0) on the last two balls. 

The Indian left-arm pacer was on a hat-trick but he closely missed out on that opportunity. 

At the end of the powerplay, South Africa were battling at 30/4. 

Tristan Stubbs and David Miller fought well

Although Tristan Stubbs and David Miller were too far away to threaten the visiting bowlers, they set up a good partnership of 86 runs for the fifth wicket. While the in-form Stubbs maintained his performance from the early stage of his innings, Miller struggled in his first 15 balls. However, Miller later smashed three sixes. 

After a good recovery, Stubbs and Miller were dismissed on the back-to-back balls. First, Miller was out for 36 off 27 balls (two fours and three sixes) by the leading wicket-taker of the series Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Stubbs for 43 off 29 balls (three fours and two sixes).  

Marco Jansen had a powerful cameo

Since the fall of the fifth wicket, only Marco Jansen’s batting shined in the remaining innings. Jansen remained not out for 29 runs off 12 balls (two fours and three sixes).

All the Indian bowlers picked up at least one wicket. While Arshdeep Singh took three wickets (3/20), Axar Patel (2/2) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/42) got two wickets each. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya (1/8), Ramandeep Singh (1/42), and Ravi Bishnoi (1/28) got one wicket each. 

Player of the Match and Player of the Series

Indian cricketer Tilak Varma won both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. He scored the highest runs in the match (120*) and also finished the series as the leading run-scorer (280 runs).

Indian batters Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma powerfully thrashed the South African bowlers to set up the fifth-highest total in T20I history. 

After Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to bat first at Johannesburg, powerful Indian top orders drove the team to 283/1 in 20 overs. 

Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma set up a dominant 73-run first-wicket partnership inside the powerplay. Sharma was caught behind just one ball before the powerplay completion after scoring 36 off 18 balls with the help of two fours and four sixes. 

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scored centuries

Then Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma’s powerful batting performances just destroyed the Proteas bowlers. Although there were some opportunities, South African fielders dropped those chances to only add to their disappointment. Their batting helped India score 283/1, which was India’s second-highest total and overall the fifth-highest total in T20I history. India’s highest T20I total is 297/6 against Bangladesh at Hyderabad last October. 

Sanju Samson completed his third T20I century in 51 balls. After Rohit Sharma (5 centuries) and Suryakumar Yadav (4 centuries), Samson became the third Indian to record three T20I centuries. Samson remained not out for 109 runs in 56 balls with the help of six fours and nine sixes. 

On the other hand, Tilak Varma reached the century mark in 41 balls. It was his back-to-back T20I century. After Sanju Samson, Varma became the second Indian to record T20I centuries in two consecutive innings. Also, Varma became the fifth Indian to record multiple T20I hundreds. Varma scored 120 not out off just 47 balls with the help of nine fours and ten sixes. 

Samson-Varma had a record partnership in Indian cricket

Samson and Varma had a 210-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket. While it was the first 200-run partnership for India and the second wicket in T20I history, it was also the sixth-highest T20I partnership for any wicket. 

India hit their record number of sixes

Meanwhile, India hit 23 sixes in the innings. While it was their record sixes in a T20I innings, it was also the joint third most sixes in overall T20I innings history.

Visitors India have taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match T20I series against the hosts South Africa after winning the thrilling third T20I by 11 runs at Centurion. 

After South Africa sent the visitors to bat first, India scored their second-highest T20I total against South Africa, 219/6 (20 overs). In reply, the hosts fought till the end but were restricted to 208/7 in 20 overs. 

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Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma produced good start

Although the opener Sanju Samson was out for another duck, another opener Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma handled the powerplay strongly. At the end of the powerplay, India scored 70/1. 

After Sharma was out for 50 off 25 balls (eight fours and seven sixes), Varma dominated over the South African bowlers. Although Suryakumar Yadav (1) and Hardik Pandya (18) were dismissed cheaply, Varma replied strongly from the other end. He also had a 58-run partnership with Rinku Singh for the fifth wicket before Singh was out for eight runs. 

Tilak Varma scored a century

The 22-year-old Varma completed his century in 51 balls and scored 107 not out off 56 balls with the help of eight fours and seven sixes. Despite very limited time, debutant Ramandeep Singh impressed with his 15 off six balls. 

Top-order South African batters failed to challenge strongly

In reply, the South African openers, Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks, provided a 27-run partnership for the first wicket before Arshdeep Singh bowled Rickelton for 20 runs off 15 balls (two fours and one six). 

Varun Chakravarthy got a wicket in his first over by dismissing the dangerous-looking Hendricks as he was stumped for 21 off 13 balls with four fours. South Africa ended the powerplay at 55/2. 

Last match hero Tristan Stubbs scored 12 runs, while the skipper Aiden Markram was out by Varun after scoring 29 runs. 

Klaasen kept the last hope before Jansen's stunner 

Although Proteas batters got some starts, most couldn’t manage to dominate the Indian bowlers. Wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen was once dominating alone, while he was dropped by the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.

When David Miller was out for run-a-ball 18 runs, the hosts were struggling at 142/5 in 15.5 overs. 

In the 18th over, Arshdeep dismissed Klaasen for 41 runs off 22 balls with the help of one four and four sixes. Despite that wicket fall, South Africa was still in the game thanks to Marco Jansen’s incredible strikes. 

In the 19th over, Jansen scored 26 runs against Hardik Pandya, where the Proteas batter hit three fours and two sixes along with one double run.  

In the final over, while South Africa required 25 runs, Jansen hit an over-boundary to Arshdeep, but the left-arm Indian pacer won the battle. After dismissing Jansen for 54 off just 17 balls (four fours and five sixes), Arshdeep conceded only one four.

Among the Indian bowlers, Arshdeep took three wickets (4-0-37-3) and Varun Chakravarthy got two wickets (4-0-54-2). Also, Hardik Pandya (4-0-50-1) and Axar Patel (4-0-29-1) shared one wicket each, and Ravi Bishnoi was outstanding despite finishing without any wicket (4-0-33-0). 

The youngster Tilak Varma’s powerful century guides India to score 219/6 at the end of the first innings of the Centurion T20I.

It is the third game of the four-match T20I series between the hosts South Africa and the visitors India. With the 1-1 series scoreline, South African captain Aiden Markram once again won the toss and chose to field first. 

While Tilak Varma scored 107 runs off 56 balls with the help of eight fours and seven sixes, India recorded their second-highest T20I total against South Africa. India’s highest T20I total against South Africa is 237/3 (20 overs) during the 2022 Guwahati T20I. 

Sanju Samson scored another duck

After scoring two centuries in his back-to-back T20I innings, Sanju Samson scored ducks in back-to-back T20I innings. While he scored a duck in three balls in the previous game, he was bowled for another duck in two balls in the third T20I of the series. 

Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma had a century partnership

Although the visitors were 0/1 in 0.2 overs, another opener Abhishek Sharma and the no.3 batter Tilak Varma handled the situation very well. They helped India to score 70/1 at the end of the powerplay. 

Sharma and Varma set a 107-run partnership for the second wicket before Sharma was stumped after scoring 50 off 25 balls with the help of three fours and five sixes. 

Captain Suryakumar Yadav (1) was dismissed early while Hardik Pandya (18) couldn’t bat longer despite a good start. 

Varma completed his fifty runs in 32 balls and then he thrashed the Proteas bowlers. Although Rinku Singh (8) couldn’t score many runs, he provided good support to Varma as they had a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket. 

Debutant Ramandeep Singh impressed in short times by scoring 15 off just six balls. 

Varma became second youngest Indian cricketer to record T20I century

On the other hand, Varma strongly dominated against the South African bowlers. The left-handed batter completed his first T20I century in 51 balls. By scoring his first T20I century at the age of just 22 years and five days, he became the second youngest Indian cricketer to score a T20I century. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal holds the record for the youngest Indian to score a T20I century with his 100 off 49 balls against Nepal at the age of 21 years and 279 days during last year’s Asian Games.  

Although India lost the low-scoring Gqeberha T20I, Varun Chakravarthy stunned everyone with his unforgettable bowling performance. He recorded the joint-best bowling figures by an Indian spinner outside India.

Leading the four-match away T20I series by 1-0, India scored only 124/6 in the first innings after losing the toss in the second game. In reply, South Africa were once struggling at 86/7. 

Before Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee set a stunning finish to level the series, Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy completely dominated against the Proteas batters. Starting with the wicket of captain Aiden Markram (3) in his first over, he dismissed the opener Reeza Hendricks (24) in his next over.

SEE ALSO: Sanju Samson creates new unwanted record in Indian cricket after a duck

Varun Chakravarthy bowled four batters

Varun changed his bowling end to start his third over. While Marco Jansen (7) was his third victim, Varun started his last over with the two most important wickets, Heinrich Klaasen (2) and David Miller (0), in back-to-back deliveries. While Klaasen was dismissed at long off, the other four batters were bowled. 

Varun finished the innings with bowling figures of 4-0-17-5. However, South Africa won the match by three wickets with six balls to spare.  

Here are some key stats on Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling performance

• Joint third-best T20I bowling figures by a spinner in South Africa. 

Best T20I bowling figures in South Africa

• Joint second-best T20I bowling figures against South Africa. 

Best T20I bowling figures against South Africa

• Joint fourth-best T20I bowling figures by an Indian bowler. Also, Varun delivered the joint second-best bowling figures by an Indian bowler outside India and the joint-best bowling figures by an Indian spinner outside India. 

Best T20I bowling figures by an Indian bowler

South Africa claimed a dramatic win in the Gqeberha T20I to level the home T20I series by 1-1 with two matches to go. Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee were the heroes of the match with their strong batting performances. 

Trailing the four-match T20I series by 1-0, hosts South Africa chose to field first in the second game. While India scored 124/6 in 20 overs, South Africa chased down the target in 19 overs after losing seven wickets. 

Indian middle-order batters fought hard

India lost their first three batters in the first four overs. Sanju Samson, who hit centuries previous two innings, scored a duck in the game. Struggling at 15/3, Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27) fought hard before losing their wickets at important times.

Hardik Pandya batted till the end as the right-handed batter scored 39 not out off 45 balls (four fours and one six). 

South African bowlers Marco Jansen (1/25), Gerald Coetzee (1/25), Andile Simelane (1/20), Aiden Markram (1/4), and Nqabayomzi Peter (1/20) got one wicket each, while Keshav Maharaj also maintained his tight bowling (4-0-24-0).

Varun Chakravarthy dominated with the ball

In reply, South African openers provided a better start. However, the openers failed to hold their starts as Ryan Rickelton (13) and Reeza Hendricks (24) were dismissed at disappointing times. Before Hendricks was bowled by Varun Chakravarthy, captain Aiden Markram (3), who was feeling uncomfortable after getting hit hard on his helmet, was also bowled by Varun.

While Varun and Ravi Bishnoi were dominating with the ball, the Proteas’ batters had no clue. Stubbs was holding one end, but the other batters failed to support him. 

Varun finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-17-5, while Bishnoi ended with the bowling figures of 4-0-21-0. Out of his five wickets, four were bowled. 

Stubbs and Coetzee stunned at the end

However, in the slog overs, while the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav decided to go with his pacers, Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee dominated to secure a stunning victory. Struggling at 86/7 in 15.4 overs, South Africa chased the target in 19 overs. 

Apart from Varun and Bishnoi, only Arshdeep Singh (4-0-41-1) managed to pick up a wicket as he broke the opening partnership. 

This result ended India’s 11-match unbeaten streak in the T20I format. Although it was Suryakumar Yadav’s third defeat as a T20I captain, it was his first defeat after becoming a regular captain. 

After Sanju Samson’s powerful T20I century, Indian spinners produced the dominance to secure a memorable 61-run win in the four-match T20I series opener against the hosts South Africa.

Durban hosted the series opener, where South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first. India scored 202/8 in 20 overs. In reply, South Africa were all out for only 141 runs in 17.5 overs. It was India’s second largest T20I win (by runs) against the hosts South Africa, while the record is a 106-run victory in Johannesburg 2023. 

With this win, India have taken a 1-0 lead in the four-match T20I series against the hosts South Africa with three matches yet to be played. 

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Sanju Samson scored a 47-ball hundred

Indian opener Sanju Samson played a powerful knock of 107 runs off 50 balls with the help of seven fours and 10 sixes. While it was his second T20I century, he recorded in back-to-back innings. Samson became the first Indian batter to record centuries in consecuctive T20I innings, and his 47-ball hundred was the second fastest T20I century by any batter against South Africa.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav (21) and Tilak Varma (33) provided strong support to Samson, but the late batters didn’t perform powerfully in the slog overs. However, India still managed their second highest T20I total against the hosts South Africa. 

Indian spinners shared six wickets

In reply, none of the South African batters reached the 30-run mark. Six batters reached the double-digit scores, including three scoring 20+ runs. While Heinrich Klaasen scored 25 runs, Gerald Coetzee (23) and the opener Ryan Rickelton (21) were the other South Africans to score 20+ runs in that innings. 

Indian spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets each in the match as the hosts hadn’t any strong reply. Chakravarthy had the bowling figures of 4-0-25-3 and Bishnoi ended with the 4-0-28-3 bowling figures.  

Also, Avesh Khan bagged two wickets (2/28) and Arshdeep Singh got a wicket (1/25). 

Indian cricketer Sanju Samson created history by scoring his second T20I century as the right-handed batter recorded the T20I centuries in consecutive innings. He became the first Indian cricketer and fourth overall batter to record T20I hundreds in successive innings. 

India are playing against the hosts South Africa in the four-match T20I series. In the opening game of the T20I series at Durban, South Africa chose to field first after winning the toss. Samson's powerful batting helped India to score 202/8 in 20 overs. 

Sanju Samson scored a 47-ball century

Opener Sanju Samson, who batted powerfully in his last T20I innings to score 111 runs against Bangladesh in the Hyderabad T20I last October, scored another century in the T20I series opener against South Africa. The right-handed batter completed his second T20I century in just 47 balls, which was the new record for the fastest T20I century by an Indian against South Africa. 

After scoring 107 off 50 balls, Samson was dismissed after Tristan Stubbs took a good catch at the deep mid-wicket as the leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter got the wicket in his name. In the latest century knock, the right-handed batter hit seven fours and ten sixes. 

Here are some crucial stats for Sanju Samson's batting:

• Samson became the first Indian batter to score T20I centuries in back-to-back innings.
• Samson became the fourth batter in T20I history to record centuries in back-to-back innings. The other three batters in this historic record book are Gustav Mckeon (France), Rilee Rossouw (South Africa), and Phil Salt (England).
• After Rohit Sharma (5 centuries), Suryakumar Yadav (4 centuries), and KL Rahul (2 centuries), Samson became the fourth Indian to hit multiple T20I centuries. 
• Samson hit his fifth T20 century. He became the seventh Indian cricketer to record five or more T20 hundreds. 
• After Suresh Raina (101 in 2010 Gros Islet), Rohit Sharma (106 in 2015 Dharamsala), and Suryakumar Yadav (100 in 2023 Johannesburg), Samson became the fourth Indian batter to score a T20I century against South Africa. Samson also recorded the highest individual score by an Indian against South Africa in the T20I history. 
• Samson recorded the second-fastest T20I century against South Africa. The record is a 39-ball hundred by the Caribbean cricketer Johnson Charles at Centurion in 2023.     
• Samson hit 10 sixes in the innings. After Johnson Charles (11 sixes at Centurion in 2023) and Chris Gayle (10 sixes at Johannesburg in 2007), Samson became the third batter to hit 10 or more sixes in an T20I innings against South Africa. 
• Samson also equalled the record for most sixes by an Indian in a T20I innings. Previously, Rohit Sharma recorded 10 sixes against Sri Lanka in the 2017 Indore T20I. 

India scored 202/8, including 13 sixes

Although Samson batted powerfully, while captain Suryakumar Yadav (21) and Tilak Varma (33) provided him strong supports from other end, the Indian batting was controlled by the South African bowlers as the visitors managed 35 runs for five wickets in the last five overs. However, India's 202/8 was the second highest T20I total for India against South Africa in South Africa. The record is 203/5 in 2018 Johannesburg T20I. 

India hit 13 T20I sixes in the innings. After 2022 Delhi T20I (14 sixes) and 2022 Guwahati T20I (13 sixes), it was the third time when India hit 13 sixes in a T20I innings against South Africa. 

South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee took three wickets (3/37), while Marco Jansen was exceptional in the game (4-0-24-1).

History was made at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, as India triumphed over South Africa by 7 runs to claim the T20 World Cup 2024 title on Saturday, June 29.

For India, this victory marked the end of a 13-year drought, while for South Africa, the wait for a major ICC trophy continues. The final was a thrilling spectacle, showcasing the best of T20 cricket with its nail-biting moments and dramatic shifts in momentum.

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Memorable Matches of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

The T20 World Cup 2024 was filled with unforgettable matches that showcased the excitement and unpredictability of T20 cricket. Here are five of the most memorable encounters:

1. The Grand Finale: South Africa vs India

Chasing 177 to win, South Africa faced a fierce Indian bowling attack. Early breakthroughs by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh put India in control. Tristan Stubbs and Quinton de Kock staged a fightback, adding 58 runs off 39 balls, but their dismissals left South Africa in a precarious position.

With five overs to go, South Africa were rampant. Heinrich Klaasen, one of the great hitters in the game, and David Miller had clubbed 38 runs off the two previous overs, and with six wickets in hand South Africa needed only a run-a-ball off the last 30 balls.

Rohit Sharma was forced to go to the best bowler in the world, when he would have otherwise saved Bumrah for later overs. But the most telling blow, came at the start of the 17th over. Hardik bowled a wide line outside off and took the edge of Klaasen, Pant snaffling the chance gleefully.

Hardik Pandya’s decisive final over sealed the victory, with Suryakumar Yadav’s acrobatic catch on the boundary line providing the final dramatic twist. The climax came in the final over when Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch ensured India’s victory, ending their 13-year wait for a T20 World Cup title.

2. Afghanistan vs Australia (Super Eight Clash)

In a shocking upset, Afghanistan defeated Australia by 21 runs. Despite Pat Cummins’ hat-trick, Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib led their team to a modest total of 148.

Maxwell’s aggressive approach saw him unleash a series of audacious shots, including a shovelled four off Azmatullah Omarzai that left him beaming. After notching up a rapid 35-ball half-century. In a crucial moment, Naib, with the assistance of Noor Ahmad, dismissed Maxwell for 59 off 41 balls.

Noor Ahmad’s spectacular low catch at backward point off Naib’s delivery halted Maxwell’s momentum and left Australia struggling at 106 for 6 in the 15th over, still needing 43 runs off 32 balls.

Naib’s exceptional spell yielded career-best figures of 4 for 20, including the prized scalps of Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, and Pat Cummins, ensuring Afghanistan’s first-ever victory over Australia in any format.

Australia’s chase faltered as Naib’s four-wicket haul dismantled their batting lineup, securing Afghanistan’s first-ever victory over Australia in any format.

3. Australia vs India (Super Eight Clash)

India secured their spot in the semi-finals with a 24-run win over Australia. Rohit Sharma’s explosive 92 off 41 balls powered India to 205/5.

The Australian chase got off to a rocky start with Arshdeep Singh forcing an edge off David Warner in the very first over.

Head and captain Mitchell Marsh stitched an 81-run stand and threatened to take the game away from India as the two kept going from both ends. However, Kuldeep broke the stand in the 9th over, taking the big wicket of Mitchell Marsh after Axar Patel came up with a ‘catch of the tournament’ contender.

Glenn Maxwell threatened to go big, hitting 2 sixes and 3 boundaries for his 12-ball 20, but he was undone by Kuldeep, who got his wrong’un to bamboozle the Australian all-rounder. Axar Patel joined the party, dismissing the dangerous Marcus Stoinis for 2.

With the 24-run win, India confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. India finished Group 1 table on the top and continued their unbeaten run in the tournament. It was also India’s third successive victory against Australia in men’s T20 World Cups, a streak that began in 2014.

4. Afghanistan vs Bangladesh (Super Eight Clash)

Afghanistan defended a low total of 115 runs. Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan were instrumental in taking early wickets and maintaining pressure.

One of the most epic matches you will ever witness in a World Cup and this game had everything except a Super Over. We had three, no, four rain stoppages, the DLS method also came in but eventually, it was Afghanistan who prevailed in this game and will face South Africa in a bid to play in the Grand Finale.

Defending a meager total of 114 runs, Afghanistan needed early wickets and it was yet again Naveen-ul-Haq who stepped up and took the bull by its horns and picked up back-to-back wickets in the third over.

After the Powerplay, Rashid Khan weaved his magic and bowled four stellar overs, picking up four wickets and that put his side on top of proceedings.

Noor Ahmad and the others bowled economically but it was just slipping out of their grasp with 2 overs to go.

And yet again, Naveen bowled the crucial penultimate over and picked up back-to-back wickets yet again to seal the most memorable win for his side.

Earlier, Inserted into bat by Bangladesh, Afghanistan struggled to get its innings going before a few meaty blows from skipper Rashid Khan helped it post 115/5 in 20 overs

5. India vs England (2nd Semi-final)

India advanced to the final with a commanding 68-run win over England. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav’s crucial partnership helped India post 171/7. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav then dismantled England’s batting lineup, ensuring India’s place in the final after a decade.

Axar was the game-changer. He came on immediately after Jos Buttler had whacked Arshdeep Singh for three fours in an over and with his very first ball took out the biggest threat.

Each of Axar’s first three overs had a wicket off the first ball. Jonny Bairstow once again choosing to stay leg side and getting bowled, and Moeen Ali’s wicket.

England’s last recognised batter, Livingstone, was run-out after a mix-up with the lower order. Jasprit Bumrah gets the wicket of Jofra Archer. A yorker hits Archer’s back foot and umpire has raised his finger. Even a review could not save Archer as the ball has been found to be clipping the leg stump. India have defeated England by 68 runs and march into the final of T20 World Cup after 10 years.

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.