After 17 years, India have finally brought home the T20 World Cup. Pulling off the greatest turnaround in the history of the T20 World Cup final, Rohit Sharma & co beat Aiden Markram’s South Africa by seven runs to end the ICC trophy drought of 11 years. Last time India won any global title was the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Since then, India crashed out of the title race on multiple occasions. But Saturday was a whole lot of different cricket that we have seen in a while. In a format that has been a batter’s paradise, this edition of the T20 World Cup brought back the spotlight on the bowlers. Terrific bowling action by Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and India vice-captain Hardik Pandya snatched the win from the Proteas.
India vs South Africa T20 World Cup Final: The return of King Kohli!
Form is temporary but class is permanent – This is a line that we often hear in the world of cricket. On Saturday, Virat Kohli proved it to the T! India witnessed an abject collapse of the top order after winning the toss and choosing to bat first against South Africa. Skipper Rohit Sharma (9), Rishabh Pant (0) and Suryakumar Yadav (3) fell early and India were teetering at 34 for three inside the powerplay.
India Head Coach Rahul Dravid then asked Axar Patel to go and bat on number 4. It was this fourth wicket stand between Patel and Kohli that brought India back in the game. Kohli, who had a dismal show so far, really ‘saved up the best for the last.’ In his 76 off 59 knock, Kohli smashed six boundaries and two maximus. Axar Patel proved to be a perfect partner as his critical knock of 47 off 31 guided India to a good total.
Shivam Dube (27 off 16) kept up the tempo in the death overs. Despite the early shocks that saw Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada picking up three wickets, India finished strong with 176/7 in 20 overs. This was the highest ever total in the T20 World Cup final match.
India vs South Africa T20 World Cup Final: Proteas choke, again!
In reply, South Africa started off on a terrible note. Just like India, they also lost key wickets early in the chase. Reeza Hendricks (4), Aiden Markram (4) went back to the dugout during the powerplay. However, Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs got the Proteas back in the chase.
But Axar Patel ended this key third wicket partnership. Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen changed the game and it looked like South Africa may finally script the history. In 15.2 overs at 150/4, South Africa had six wickets in hand and they were just 27 runs away from the trophy. Indian bowlers were looking helpless as Klaasen hammered them mercilessly.
But then Rohit Sharma decided to bring in Hardik Pandya and the game took a stunning turn in favour of India. First, Pandya dismissed Klaasen for 52 runs and then Bumrah got Marco Jansen. Still, with David Miller on the strike, South Africa had a glimmer of hope and rightly so.
Arshdeep Singh bowled the 19th over with a studied calmness and conceded just four runs. Pandya was asked to bowl the last over. It was Suryakumar Yadav’s magnificent screamer in the last over off Pandya’s first delivery that virtually sealed the deal for India. Pandya picked up another wicket in the form of Kagiso Rabada and India won the Saturday thriller by seven runs.