India clinched their second T20 World Cup title, ending an 11-year drought in global trophies with a hard-fought 7-run victory over South Africa. The match, filled with emotion, saw India prevail as South Africa faltered in the crucial moments.
Led by a resilient innings from Virat Kohli, who scored 76 runs, India posted a competitive total of 176/7 in their 20 overs despite early setbacks. Kohli's partnership with Axar Patel (47 runs) steadied India after the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav.
In response, South Africa showed glimpses of fight, especially through Heinrich Klaasen's aggressive 52 off 27 balls. However, Hardik Pandya's crucial bowling spell (3/20) turned the tide in India's favor, complemented by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh's disciplined bowling efforts.
South Africa, in their maiden T20 World Cup final appearance, fell short, managing 169/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite Klaasen's efforts, they couldn't surpass India's total, thus handing India their first global trophy since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
The victory marks a significant achievement for India, celebrating their success under Kohli's captaincy and adding to their cricketing legacy.
Brief Scores: India: 176/7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 76, Axar Patel 47; Keshav Maharaj 2/23) South Africa: 169/8 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 52, Jasprit Bumrah 2/18, Arshdeep Singh 2/20)
India won by 7 runs
