Team India clinched the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title with a 7-run triumph over debutant finalists South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday to put an end to a prolonged trophy drought.
India made 176 runs thanks to the contributions of star batter Virat Kohli, who top-scored for the men in blue with 76 runs before the bowling unit led by seamer Jasprit Bumrah limited the Proteas to 169 runs in 20 overs.
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Hardik Pandya, who has stood out in the tournament with his bowling efforts and his batting contributions, commemorated the victory as he struck a pose alongside the trophy with the winner’s medal around his neck.
Pandya broke down in tears of joy after delivering the winning ball of the game as a player who had been subject to a tornado of criticism for various reasons leading up to the tournament found salvation in the triumph.
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Pandya went through an array of emotions at the end of the game as wild celebrations followed the much-awaited crowing moment. The all-rounder found himself in the headlines for rather unsavoury reasons over the past year with regard to his switch to Mumbai Indians from Gujart Titans. He also had to deal with a bout of injuries in the past year but worked his way back to the top in the 20-over spectacle.
The 30-year-old was trusted with the final over by skipper Rohit Sharma and the seamer delivered.
At one point it seemed as though the Proteas would run away to victory as all they needed to win a maiden title was 30 runs off as many deliveries, but the pace unit headed by Jasprit Bumrah reined the flow of runs in and picked up crucial wickets to curtail the Protea charge.
Arshdeep Singh produced a tight penultimate over to set up Pandya for the final stretch and India reached promised land to send the nation into delirium.
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