Team India, on Saturday (June 29), finally ended their long wait for the World Cup trophy by clinching the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with a thrilling 7-run victory over South Africa. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India secured their second T20 World Cup title, marking their first win since 2007.
India faced a challenging situation during the final as Heinrich Klaasen’s aggressive batting threatened to derail their hopes. At one point, South Africa appeared poised for victory, needing 24 runs from 25 balls with Klaasen and David Miller set at the crease. However, India’s bowlers staged a remarkable comeback, restricting South Africa to 169 for 8 in their pursuit of 177 runs.
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Earlier in the match, India had stumbled to 34 for 3 within the powerplay overs. However, Virat Kohli’s return to form proved pivotal as he crafted a superb innings of 76 runs, supported by Axar Patel’s valuable 47-run contribution. Their partnership helped India recover to post a competitive total of 176 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
After the final delivery sealed their victory, emotions ran high among the Indian players. Captain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and the entire team were visibly overwhelmed with joy and relief.
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Scenes of tears and embraces among the players showcased the magnitude of India’s achievement after a prolonged quest for a major ICC trophy. With this win, India not only secured their second T20 World Cup title but also became the first Asian nation to achieve this feat.
Ahh! This 💙 pic.twitter.com/R9ac1Fkzrs
— Sohel. (@SohelVkf) June 29, 2024
HARDIK PANDYA YOU ARE A HERO pic.twitter.com/KdTv1a8ysZ
— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) June 29, 2024
Their triumph marks them as the third team in history, alongside England and West Indies, to win the T20 World Cup twice. Importantly, this victory ended India’s drought in ICC tournaments since their Champions Trophy win, providing a significant milestone in their cricketing history despite recent close calls in the WTC and ODI World Cup.