The Indian cricket team won its second T20 World Cup title after snatching victory from certain defeat against South Africa at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.
Team India’s victory in the T20 World Cup final — by a slender margin of seven runs — seemed improbable at one stage with South Africa needing just 30 runs off 30 balls to win their first ever major trophy, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen’s belligerent 52 off 27 balls.
However, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, who shared seven wickets between them, bowled the overs of their lives to cut down South Africa at 169-8 as they chased a target of 177 runs in the T20 World Cup final.
The edge-of-the-seat thriller tested the nerves of even Captain Cool MS Dhoni, who was at the helm of the Indian team when the won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup in Mumbai.
“WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS 2024. My heart rate was up, well done on being calm, having the self belief and doing what you guys did. From all the Indians back home and everywhere in the world a big thank you for bringing the World Cup Home. CONGRATULATIONS,” Dhoni posted on his Instagram handle before adding: “Arreeee thanks for the priceless birthday gift.”
Dhoni’s birthday is on July 7.
India won its second T20 World Cup. They had won the inaugural event in 2007. This is the Men in Blue’s first world title in 13 years. Over the last 12 months, India lost the World Test Championship final twice and, the 50-over World Cup final at home to the Australians.
Beside their bowlers, India will also be thankful to Virat Kohli — who had scored only 75 runs in seven games before the T20 World Cup final — but scored 76 runs off 59 balls on Saturday to rescue the Men in Blue from 34-3 inside the first five overs.
Both Kohli and India captain Rohit Sharma announced their retirements from the shortest format of the game.
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