India Ends World Cup Drought: A Historic Victory
3 min read
YES, IT IS THERE. SET OFF THE PARTY. A DECADE OF PAIN HAS ENDED IN INDIA. They cross that threshold after all these years, and they take home the 2024 T20 World Cup.Even though South Africa needed just 30 balls to win off 30 balls to win their second T20 World Cup, they managed to rally. It’s their first big victory since 2013 and their first T20 World Cup victory since the tournament’s inception in 2007.
The wait of 17 years comes to an end 🇮🇳
— ICC (@ICC) June 29, 2024
India win their second #T20WorldCup trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wz36sxYAhw
Earlier, in the 2024 T20 World Cup final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rohit won the toss and declared that India would bat first against South Africa. A country shed tears seven months ago when its heroes were denied the opportunity to compete in the World Cup final, the biggest stage of all.
After a difficult start, India rallied to reach 176/7, establishing the record for the highest total in a T20 World Cup final thanks to Virat Kohli’s 76 off 59 balls. Reeza Hendricks was bowled out by Jasprit Bumrah in the second over, giving South Africa a worrisome start.
READ MORE: Kohli’s Struggles Recall Dhoni’s 2011 WC Journey
Arshdeep Singh trapped Captain Aiden Markram had in the next ball. The South African ship was then stabilized by Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs with a 58-run stand off 38 balls. Despite this, India managed to keep a lid on the South African innings by taking regular wickets, with De Kock going to Arshdeep and Stubbs to Axar Patel. India appeared to be losing the match after Heinrich Klaasen scored 24 runs in the fifteenth over, but Hardik Pandya’s brilliance in the seventeenth over .
After Kohli struck three fours in the opening over, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj removed Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the second over. After thereafter, Kagiso Rabada dismissed Suryakumar Yadav, which resulted in India losing three wickets in the powerplay. Since then, Axar Patel and Kohli have calmed the ship for India, guiding them to the tenth over. India reached 100 in 14 overs as their stand continued to reach 60.
Praise For Arshdeep and Pandya
Hardik Pandya deserves praise as well for bowling the 17th over for just four runs, and subsequently then in the final over, defended 15 runs. He let out a baby cry. The past few months had been quite the journey for him. Given that Hardik Pandya was leading the charge and giving it his all in the last overs, it was only fitting. He has previously defended something before.
Notes of gratitude must also be set out for Arshdeep Singh, who bowled the 19th over in front of David Miller and Keshav Maharaj despite being under tremendous pressure and only gave up four runs.
But Quinton de Kock’s magnificent fielding saw Axar out with a direct hit at the non-striker’s end, bringing him to within three runs of his half-century.For the fourth wicket, Axar and Kohli’s partnership produced 72 runs in 54 balls. After reaching his fifty in forty-eight deliveries, Kohli struck out in the 18th over of his match against Kagiso Rabada, hitting two sixes and one four. Surya last over catch will be remembered as the catches in the indian cricket history.
Virat Kohli became the Man of TheMatch and Jasprit Bumrah hounred as a MAN of The Tournament. Virat announced it was his last T20 World Cup.
