India Clinches Second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Title With Thrilling Victory Over South Africa
India triumphed over South Africa in a thrilling encounter at the Kensington Oval in Barbados to claim their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title. In a match characterized by dramatic momentum shifts, the Indian bowlers maintained their composure to fend off a powerful Heinrich Klaasen onslaught in the middle overs, defending a total of 177 and ending an 11-year drought for an ICC title.
Chasing 177, South Africa faltered despite being in a strong position at one point, ultimately finishing at 168/8 in 20 overs, giving India a narrow eight-run victory.
India showcased dominance throughout the tournament, entering the final unbeaten with victories over teams like Pakistan, Australia, and Bangladesh. South Africa also arrived at the final undefeated but faced several challenging moments that tested their resilience.
On Saturday, India won the toss and opted to bat first. Virat Kohli set the tone with three boundaries in the first over, bowled by Marco Jansen. Captain Rohit Sharma followed suit with a couple of fours off Keshav Maharaj. However, South Africa quickly bounced back. Rohit was dismissed while sweeping, followed by Rishabh Pant in the same over by Maharaj. Suryakumar Yadav’s attempt to pull resulted in him finding a fielder, leaving India struggling at 34/3.
Virat Kohli then played cautiously, supported by an enterprising innings from Axar Patel, helping India recover to post 176/7 in 20 overs. Axar scored 47 off 31 balls, while Kohli top-scored with 76 off 59 balls, adding 72 runs for the fourth wicket with Axar. Kohli’s patient innings saw him hitting a six off Kagiso Rabada in the 18th over, following his first half-century of the tournament off 48 deliveries.
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Rohit Sharma (9) had chosen to bat first on a challenging pitch. However, his early dismissal along with Pant’s and Suryakumar’s created tension in the Indian camp. Kohli then adjusted his approach, allowing Axar to contribute with crucial boundaries. Axar’s standout performance included a straight six off Rabada, marking a significant innings in his T20 career.
India’s innings picked up momentum between the 7th and 15th overs, thanks to Axar’s aggressive batting, even though he fell to a direct hit from Quinton de Kock. Shivam Dube’s timely 27 off 16 balls further bolstered the total, while Kohli anchored the innings with a couple of sixes in the last five overs, where India amassed 58 runs for the loss of three wickets.
Despite South Africa’s strong start in the chase, the Indian bowlers held firm, particularly during Klaasen’s blitz in the middle overs, to secure a memorable victory and lift the coveted trophy once again.
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