It has been 13 years since the Indian Cricket team won an International Tournament. That trophy drought came to an end after India pulled off a spectacular 7-run victory against South Africa in the nail-biting final of the T20 World Cup on Saturday.
Before the match kicked off, there were wide speculations about who would be the ‘CHOKERS’ in the finale. Unfortunately, South Africa has never won a trophy in international cricket despite always having a pool of talents in their team. Call it ‘Luck Factor’ or something else, they have always choked in vital matches. They were playing their first ever final of an ICC tournament.
On the other hand, India has been to the final of the ICC ODI World Cup in 2003 and 2023. At one point of time, it seemed that the match had been tilted to SA’s favor but then, the Boys in Blue snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat, thanks to Surya Kuman Yadav’s breathtaking catch under immense pressure.
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India Batted First
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first. Kohli had a bad patch throughout the tournament, amassing only 75 runs in seven games. But as it is always said “All’s well that ends well”, King Kohli shone his class in what he later announced was his last T20 match. His belligerent 76 off 59 balls took India’s innings to a respectable total of 176 runs. Kohli smashed two sixes and six fours in his inning and breathed some relief in the team that was almost limping at 34 after losing 3 wickets in the first five overs.
Axar Patel was promoted to No 5. The man showed his maturity by absorbing the tremendous pressure, forming a 72-run partnership with Kohli. His brisk 47 off 31 balls, decorated with four sixes, pulled India back on the track.
Soon after hitting his first century in the tournament, which came off 48 balls in the 17th over, Kohli slipped into his devastating form that has earned him love and accolades from his admirers and critics alike. He hit big sixes against Kagiso Rabada (1-36) and Marco Jansen (1-49). His smashing ended after he was caught in the penultimate over.
Shivam Dube added 27 off 16 balls before falling to Anrich Nortje’s last over as India piled up 58 more runs in the last five overs.
Kohli got India to a good start when he shamed left-arm fast bowler Jansen by smashing three boundaries in his first over. Skipper Sharma hit left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for two fours off his first two deliveries. However, Maharaj had the last laugh when Klassen took a brilliant catch at square leg. Rishabh Pant, while trying to show aggression without much thought, went back to pavilion for duck after he attempted a reverse sweep but ended up smacking the ball off the toe-end of his bat and it landed in the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
Klaasen struck again. This time, Yadav fell to Rabaa’s short-pitched ball and Klassen at the deep fine leg did not miss the catch. India was deep in trouble before Kohli and Patel formed a solid partnership to steer the team out of the crisis.
Patel went back to pavilion after wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock got into Kohli’s flick and his direct throw scalped the bails off the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
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South Africa Started Confidently
Both India and South Africa reached the climax unbeaten. South Africa were upbeat about ending its World Cup hoodoo. They got off to a flier. Klassen hit a four and three sixes in left-arm spinner Axar Patle’s over, adding 24 runs to their score.
They sprinted to 147-4 in 15 overs, reaching a stage when 30 off 30 balls was all they required to come off victorious. However, India got a brilliant pace ace in Bumrah who conceded only six runs in his next two overs. Pandya did a great job by getting Klases caught behind.
David Miller scored 21. Left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh gave only four runs in the penultimate over. When Pandya came to bowl the last over, India had 16 runs to defend
Pandya dismissed Miller off his first ball when Suryakumar Yadav took an unbelievable juggling catch while maintaining his balance on the edge of the long-off boundary. The catch won India the gripping final.
It’s truly hurting for South Africa who has never kissed success in the international tournament.
After the match, Kohli announced his retirement from the T20 format and it came as a big shock for the Indian cricket fans. Captain Rohit Sharma followed Kohli’s footprints and announced his retirement from the international T20 event. Both cited the reason that young players should get chances to play for the Indian team and it was high time for them to call it a day.
