Twitter Reactions: India end trophy drought, defy odds to beat South Africa in T20 World Cup 2024 final

India took on South Africa in the finals of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29. India won the toss and opted to bat first aiming to capitalise on a batting track. India started on a positive note as star batter Virat Kohli smashed three boundaries in the first over off Marco Jansen's bowling, accumulating 15 runs in the over. 

After the first over everything went south for the Men in Blue as they lost three wickets in quick succession. Keshav Maharaj dismissed both Rohit Sharma (9) and Rishabh Pant (0) in the same over, putting India on the back foot. Suryakumar Yadav's (3) early dismissal was like salt in the wound, as India managed to score 45 runs with the loss of three wickets under the powerplay.

Kohli found company in Axar Patel to steady India's ship. While Kohli was playing the anchor role, Patel was smashing the Proteas bowlers all around the park. The batters stitched a crucial 72-run partnership putting India back in the game. Axar, unfortunately, found himself back in the pavilion after a brilliant run-out from Quinton de Kock. Patel played a brilliant innings of 47 runs under pressure.

Kohli then partnered up with big hitter Shivam Dube to take India to an up-par score. The 35-year-old saved his best for the summit clash as he smashed 76 runs in 59 balls, lacing his innings with six boundaries and two sixes. Dube played a quick cameo of 27 runs, before being dismissed by Anrich Nortje.

Ravindra Jadeja came into bat for the last two balls and scored just two runs, as he was the last wicket to fall, with India scoring 176/7 in their allotted 20 overs. India made history as they posted the highest total in the T20 World Cup final. 

Maharaj and Nortje were the best bowlers for South Africa claiming two wickets each, with Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada picking one each.

India defeat South Africa in the summit clash 

In reply, the Aiden Markram-led side faced an early blow as Reeza Hendricks departed for just four runs. Skipper Markram also fell in the next over, with the scorecard reading 12/2. De Kock and Tristan Stubbs took the responsibility on themselves to get back their side in the hunt as they stitched an important 58-run partnership. Stubbs added 31 runs to the scorecard with De Kock departing after a 31 ball-39.

Heinrich Klaasen looked at his usual best smashing the Indian bowlers all around the park. The right-hand batter smashed a 23-ball fifty, including a 24-run over off Axar Patel's bowling. Pandya bought India back into the game by dismissing the dangerous batter.

In 12 balls, South Africa required 20 runs with David Miller and Keshav Maharaj on the crease. Sharma handed the bowl to Arshdeep to get the job done, and he didn't disappoint as he gave just four runs, leaving the equation at 16 runs required off the last six.

Pandya ran in to bowl the final over and got rid of Miller in his first ball, courtesy of Suryakumar's brilliant piece of fielding on the ropes. India ended their ICC drought after a gap of 11 years as they restricted the opposition to 169/8 and won the game by seven runs. Pandya was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball as he claimed three crucial wickets for his side.

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