India vs South Africa ICC Men’s
T20 World Cup 2024 final was a thrilling contest that cricket fans will always
remember. The match had many ups and downs, and India dramatically won their
second T20 World Cup trophy. India’s 17-year wait is finally over to lift the
T20 World Cup trophy.
It was the battle between the
first-time ICC World Cup finalists South Africa and the inaugural T20 World Cup
champions (2007), and third-time finalists India. Both teams were unbeaten in
the tournament before the final match. Indian captain Rohit Sharma chose to bat
first after winning the toss in Barbados.
Former Indian captain Virat
Kohli, who was not in good touch in the entire ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in
the West Indies and the United States, chose the final match to showcase his
familiar batting class. While India were under pressure despite a firing start
due to losing three wickets in the powerplay, Kohli’s calm batting set up a
good foundation for the inaugural T20 World Cup champions.
While Kohli scored 76 off 59 balls (six fours and two sixes), Axar Patel (47 off 31 balls; only four and four sixes) and Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls; three fours and only six) also provided strong support to the Indian team. Team India ultimately managed to score 176/7 in 20 overs.
In reply, South Africa struggled
at the beginning of their challenging chase. However, the opener Quinton de Kock, and the top middle-order batter Tristian Stubbs controlled the game for the Proteas. Although Stubbs was
out for 31 runs off 21 balls (three fours and only six) and De Kock was
dismissed for 39 off 31 balls (four fours and only six), Heinrich Klaasen set
up the game powerfully with his firing 50.
Once South Africa needed 30 runs
in 30 balls with six wickets in hand. But the Indian pacers bowled tightly,
took the key wickets, and ultimately guided the nation to an unforgettable win.
While Klaasen lost his wicket in the 17th over after scoring 52 off 27 balls
(two fours and five sixes), David Miller (21 runs off 17 balls; one four and
one six) didn’t get any partner support.
Finally, South Africa were restricted to 169/8 (20 overs), as India won by seven runs.
Key records in the T20 World Cup 2024 final
- After Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara and West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli recorded his second fifty in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. Before his 76 against South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, the right-handed batter scored 77 against Sri Lanka in the final of the ICC World T20 2014.
- With 176/7, India recorded the highest total in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final history. The previous record was 173/2 by Australia against New Zealand at Dubai (DICS) during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 final.
- Meanwhile, South Africa’s 169/8 was the fourth-highest total in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final history.
- After India’s winning the ICC World T20 2007 final (by 5 runs) and the West Indies winning the ICC World T20 2012 final (by 36 runs), India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final victory (by 7 runs) was the third Men’s T20 World Cup final, ending with a successful defending result.
- India beating South Africa by 7 runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final was the second-lowest victory margin (by runs) in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. The record is India winning by five runs against Pakistan in the ICC World T20 2007 final.
India won the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy
- India became the first unbeaten team to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 winners won seven matches and had one no-result.
- After the West Indies (2012 and 2016) and England (2010 and 2022), India became the third team to win two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophies (2007 and 2024). There are no other teams to record multiple T20 World Cup trophies.
India won an ICC trophy
- India won their first ICC trophy in 11 years. Their last ICC trophy victory was the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
- India won their first ICC World Cup trophy in 13 years. Last time, India won an ICC World Cup trophy during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
- India won their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy. After winning the inaugural ICC World T20 trophy in 2007, the Men in Blues claimed their second T20 World Cup trophy 17 years later.
- India won their fourth ICC World Cup trophy (ODI World Cup in 1983 and 2011; T20 World Cup in 2007 and 2024).
