India posted a challenging 177-run target for South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Saturday.
The unbeaten teams of the tournament faced off in a thrilling contest, with Virat Kohli leading the charge for India.
Kohli, the star of the Indian innings, scored a magnificent 76 off 59 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes. India's innings began with an aggressive approach, as they scored 15 runs in the first over, with Kohli striking three consecutive fours off Marco Jansen. However, their momentum faced an early setback.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma, after hitting two boundaries off Keshav Maharaj in the second over, was dismissed, followed quickly by wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the same over. South Africa's Kagiso Rabada then removed Suryakumar Yadav, leaving India reeling at 34-3 in just 4.3 overs.
A crucial 72-run partnership between Kohli and Axar Patel steadied the innings. Patel's aggressive hitting, including several sixes, bolstered India's score. However, Patel's innings was cut short at 47 due to a sharp run-out by Quinton de Kock.
Kohli continued his innings with determination, reaching his half-century in 48 balls, the slowest of his T20I career. Post his fifty, Kohli accelerated the scoring rate before being dismissed by Jansen.
Shivam Dube added a valuable 27 off 16 balls, providing the finishing touches to India's innings. South Africa's bowling attack saw Maharaj and Anrich Nortje claiming two wickets each, while Rabada and Jansen took one wicket apiece.
Playing XIs:
India: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Rishabh Pant (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Heinrich Klaasen, 5 David Miller, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi.
