Barbados – India completed a dominant T20 World Cup campaign with a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the final at Kensington Oval. Chasing a challenging 177 set by the Men in Blue, the Proteas fell short despite a valiant 39 from Quinton de Kock.
India’s batting success hinged on a magnificent knock from Virat Kohli, who silenced his critics with a composed 76 off 59 balls. Early wickets for Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram put South Africa on the backfoot, and they never fully recovered.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Rohit Sharma got India off to a quick start with three boundaries in the opening over. However, his dismissal by Heinrich Klaasen in the third over put some pressure on the middle order.
Enter Kohli. The former skipper, who had struggled for runs throughout the tournament, found his touch at the perfect moment. He stitched together a crucial 74-run partnership with Axar Patel (47), laying the foundation for a competitive total. Shivam Dube provided a late flourish with a quickfire 27 off 16 balls to propel India to a defendable 176-7.
South Africa’s chase began disastrously. Openers Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram departed cheaply, leaving the Proteas in a precarious position. Quinton de Kock (39) offered some resistance, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah picked up crucial wickets in the middle overs to stifle any momentum South Africa tried to build.
Despite a valiant effort, the Proteas fell short, succumbing to India’s bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah finished with economical figures of 2-25, while Axar Patel chipped in with a wicket.
This victory marks India’s second T20 World Cup title, solidifying their position as one of the powerhouses of the format. For Kohli, the win represents a personal triumph, silencing doubters and proving his class on the biggest stage
