India Crowned 2024 T20 World Cup Champions, Ending Trophy Drought On Saturday, India ended their 11-year global title drought by defeating South Africa by seven runs to become the 2024 T20 World Cup Champions at Kensington Oval.
Led by Rohit Sharma, India overcame previous disappointments, having lost in the finals of the World Test Championship and the 50-overs home World Cup last year. They successfully restricted South Africa to 169/8, securing victory by seven runs.
This final marked South Africa’s first appearance in a senior men’s final since the inaugural Champions Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998. The Proteas have suffered seven semi-final losses, including a heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the 1999 World Cup.
Since their World Cup debut in 1991, following the end of apartheid, South Africa has been plagued by semi-final defeats in the two shorter formats. Chasing a target of 177, South Africa fell short despite Heinrich Klaasen’s rapid half-century.
The run chase started poorly for South Africa, with Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram dismissed cheaply within the first three overs, leaving them at 12/2.
Quinton de Kock then partnered with Tristan Stubbs for a steadying third-wicket stand. They added a brisk 58 runs before Axar Patel bowled Stubbs out in the ninth over. Stubbs scored 31 off 21 deliveries.
Quinton de Kock formed another crucial partnership with Heinrich Klaasen, contributing 36 runs for the fourth wicket before de Kock was dismissed in the 13th over after scoring 39 off 31 balls.
Klaasen, undeterred by de Kock’s departure, swung the momentum with powerful hitting, highlighted by a 24-run over against Axar Patel. Klaasen’s explosive innings reduced the required run-rate to a run-a-ball, with 30 runs needed from the last five overs.
Rohit Sharma reintroduced his star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who applied pressure by conceding only four runs in his third over. This pressure led to Klaasen’s dismissal, caught behind after top-scoring for South Africa with a 27-ball 52, featuring two fours and five sixes.
India’s pacers maintained the pressure, causing South Africa to lose momentum. Needing 16 runs off the final over with David Miller on strike, South Africa faltered as Miller was dismissed on the first ball, easing India’s path to victory.
Hardik Pandya claimed three wickets, while Bumrah and Arshdeep took two each, and Patel added one more.
Earlier, a stellar 76 from Virat Kohli and a fiery knock by Axar Patel propelled India to a solid total of 176/7 against South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final.
Opting to bat first, India posted 176/7, thanks to a crucial fourth-wicket partnership between Kohli and Patel.
India got off to a flying start with Kohli hitting multiple boundaries in the first two overs. However, South Africa struck back in the second over when spinner Keshav Maharaj dismissed captain Rohit Sharma (9) and Rishabh Pant (0). Suryakumar Yadav also fell cheaply, caught by Klaasen off Kagiso Rabada for 3 runs off 4 balls.
This victory not only secured the T20 World Cup title for India but also brought immense joy to millions of Indian cricket fans who had waited over a decade for an ICC trophy.
