ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final: South Africa vs India - Kohli leads the way as India win T20 World Cup by 7 runs

Virat Kohli delivered when India needed him the most, making 76 as India won the T20 World Cup at Kensington Oval on Saturday, beating South Africa by 7 runs

Match Summary

South Africa vs India, Final, ICC Men's T20 World Cup

South Africa 169/8 (20 ov)

India 176/7 (20 ov)

Result - India won by 7 runs

SCORECARD

Match Analysis

India finally ended their title drought as they won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after they defeated South Africa by seven runs in the summit clash at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday. Opting to bat, India posted a total of 176 for seven, in response, South Africa ended with 169 for eight.

India were off to a flying start with the bat as Virat Kohli (76:59b, 6x4, 2x6) and Rohit Sharma started off aggressively with a flurry of boundaries. But Keshav Maharaj pulled things back with two wickets in a single over, removing India captain and Rishabh Pant.

Kohli then along with Axar Patel (47:31b, 1x4, 4x6) led the rescue charge and brought the team back in the game with their 72-run stand. Shivam Dube (27:16b, 3x4, 1x6) also contributed down the order as India finished with the total of 176 for seven. For South Africa Maharaj and Anrich Nortje picked two wickets each.

In the chase, South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram early but it was Quinton de Kock (39:31b, 4x4, 1x6) and Tristan Stubbs (31:21b, 3x4, 1x6) who kept the Proteas in the hunt. They counter-attacked the Indian bowlers and added 58 runs for the third wicket. After Stubbs and de Kock got out, it was Heinrich Klaasen (52:27b, 2x4, 5x6), who took the game away from India. The keeper-batter put on a brutal show of power-hitting as he took Indian spinners to cleaners and put the opposition under pressure.

However, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah turned the tables for their team with two wickets in two overs. With 16 runs needed off the last over, Pandya removed David Miller (21:17b, 1x4, 1x6) and then held his nerves to defend the target and help India win their second T20 World Cup title.

For the 35-year-old Kohli it was the perfect way to bow out in the format......

"This was my last T20 World Cup and this is exactly what we wanted to achieve," he said.

"It was an amazing game. One day you feel like you can't get a run but one day, things just click. It hasn't quite sunk in for me yet."

"I am so proud to get the runs for the team the day it mattered most," said Kohli. 

"The occasion prompted that change for me, I felt like it was now or never. We have wanted to lift a trophy for a long time.

"The occasion made me put my head down, respect the situation and play the innings that the team needed from me.

"I wasn't feeling myself before today. I wasn't confident. So I am very grateful and humble right now. It has been difficult, so there are a lot of emotions," he added, confirming that the game was his last T20 for India.

"This was an open secret. It's time for the next generation to take over."

It was a bitter end for South Africa who had reached their first World Cup final after ending a streak of seven defeats in semi-finals in both World Cup formats.

"Gutted for the time being, it'll take some time to reflect on a really good campaign, hurts quite a bit but incredibly proud," said captain Aiden Markram.

"We bowled well, not a lot to work with, it was a chaseable total, batted well, came down to the wire, gutted not to get over the line. 

"Things happen quickly at the back end, but got into a great position to prove we were worthy finalists.

"South Africans are competitive, respectful and will go down with a fight. It's still a proud moment for us."

Match Stats

India Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Rohit Sharma - 1.4 ov), 2-23 (Rishabh Pant - 1.6 ov), 3-34 (Suryakumar Yadav - 4.3 ov), 4-106 (Axar Patel - 13.3 ov), 5-163 (Virat Kohli - 18.5 ov), 6-174 (Shivam Dube - 19.4 ov), 7-176 (Ravindra Jadeja - 19.6 ov)

South Africa Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Reeza Hendricks - 1.3 ov), 2-12 (Aiden Markram - 2.3 ov), 3-70 (Tristan Stubbs - 8.5 ov), 4-106 (Quinton de Kock - 12.3 ov), 5-151 (Heinrich Klaasen - 16.1 ov), 6-156 (Marco Jansen - 17.4 ov), 7-161 (David Miller - 19.1 ov), 8-168 (Kagiso Rabada - 19.5 ov)

Playing XI

South Africa 

• Quinton de Kock(WK)
• Reeza Hendricks
• Aiden Markram(C)
• Heinrich Klaasen
• David Miller
• Tristan Stubbs
• Marco Jansen
• Keshav Maharaj
• Kagiso Rabada
• Anrich Nortje
• Tabraiz Shamsi

 India 

• Rohit Sharma(C)
• Virat Kohli
• Rishabh Pant(WK)
• Suryakumar Yadav
• Shivam Dube
• Hardik Pandya
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Axar Patel
• Arshdeep Singh
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Jasprit Bumrah

Match Details:

Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024 15:30

Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

Toss: India elected to bat