T20 World Cup 2024: South Africa players in tears after loss against India in finals

On a stressful day in Bridgetown, rain fell at Kensington Oval, mirroring the tears shed by South Africa after one of their greatest chokes cost them their maiden World Cup trophy and gave India the victory.

For South Africa, who had their formidable target of 177 in their sights for so long, it was a sucker hit. The last over was quietly knocked out by Hardik Pandya, leaving the tailenders requiring 16 off five. Just seconds after the winning run, Bridgetown saw the first signs of Storm Beryl. Miller was spotted sobbing on a teammate's shoulder, and other players were also distraught. For a team that had fought its way to its first World Cup final, it was a sad and bitter finale.

“It is gut-wrenching,” said Aiden Markram, South Africa’s captain. “The guys have each been on a personal journey to get to a first final. When you get close like that and know how the game is, it adds to your emotions. We need to channel it going forward.”

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Something else ought to have happened. With six wickets in hand at 147 for 4, they required 30 off five overs, and Heinrich Klaasen and Miller were dominating. After Klaasen hit Axar Patel for 24 runs in one over, India appeared to be at a loss. Even with Japrit Bumrah bowling an over for just four runs, South Africa could afford it. With 26 needed instead of 24, they were still in command. However, Klaasen sliced an edge behind after going for Pandya's wide ball, his first of the championship. It may have flown off the edge for four on a different day. With narrow margins, South Africa lost three out of seventeen, the game seemingly slipping away.

In front of a home crowd of 100,000, India made up for their defeat in the October World Cup final. Their players, Virat Kohli (76 off 59, nearly putting the innings together) and Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 18 off four overs), took them home in the end. Even though Kohli's slowest T20 fifty for India earned him man of the match, on another day his team would have lost the championship. However, a late burst of 26 from 11 balls, following one four in 35 balls, improved his scoring pace to a respectable level. The player of the match should have been Bumrah, whose first wicket was one of the greatest deliveries in any final, or Pandya, who took out Klaasen and Miller with three for 20.

After the victory, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from the shortest format of the game. One day after the victory, Ravindra Jadeja bowed to T20Is. “With a heart full of gratitude, I bid farewell to T20 internationals. Like a steadfast horse galloping with pride, I’ve always given my best for my country and will continue to do so in other formats . Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 International career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support. Jai hind," Jadeja posted on Instagram.