Match Summary
Final Score:
- India: 176/7 in 20 overs
- South Africa: 169/8 in 20 overs
Key Moments:
- Virat Kohli and Axar Patel Partnership:
- Kohli’s 76 and Axar Patel’s 47 helped India recover from losing 3 wickets inside the powerplay.
- Indian Bowling Performance:
- Early wickets by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh rattled South Africa.
- Hardik Pandya defended 16 runs in the final over, taking crucial wickets.
- Virat Kohli’s Retirement:
- Kohli announced his retirement from T20I cricket after the match, marking an emotional end to his T20I career.
Notable Performances:
- Virat Kohli: 76 runs
- Axar Patel: 47 runs
- Jasprit Bumrah: Early wicket of Reeza Hendricks
- Arshdeep Singh: Key wickets including Aiden Markram
Match Highlights:
- India’s Batting: India posted 176/7, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
- South Africa’s Chase: Despite a strong start, South Africa fell short by 7 runs, with crucial wickets falling in the final overs.
- Record for Arshdeep Singh: Equalling the record for the most wickets in a single T20 World Cup edition.
- Emotional Scenes: Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were in tears after India clinched the trophy.
Detailed Commentary
Indian Innings:
- Early Struggles: India lost 3 wickets in the powerplay.
- Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant were dismissed by Keshav Maharaj.
- Suryakumar Yadav fell to Kagiso Rabada.
- Recovery:
- Kohli and Patel’s partnership steadied the innings.
- Shivam Dube added 27 runs in the death overs.
- Final Total: India reached 176/7, setting a challenging target for South Africa.
South African Innings:
- Early Setbacks:
- Reeza Hendricks was bowled by Bumrah.
- Aiden Markram was caught behind off Arshdeep Singh.
- Middle Overs:
- Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock formed a crucial partnership.
- Klaasen’s quickfire 52 kept South Africa in the hunt.
- Final Overs Drama:
- David Miller and Kagiso Rabada tried to chase down the target.
- Pandya’s final over heroics ensured India’s victory.
Final Over:
- Hardik Pandya to Miller:
- Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch removed Miller.
- Rabada managed a boundary but was caught on the next delivery.
- South Africa needed 9 runs off the last 2 balls but fell short.
Conclusion:
India won the T20 World Cup 2024, ending an 11-year ICC trophy drought. Virat Kohli’s retirement from T20I cricket marked the end of an era. The match was a thrilling contest, showcasing the best of T20 cricket with intense moments and stellar performances.