India defeated South Africa to win their second T20 World Cup title and their first since 2007, in a tense seven-run victory in Barbados thanks to a stunning catch by Suryakumar Yadav and some brilliant death bowling.
South Africa, playing in their first World Cup final in T20 or 50-over cricket after winning the semi-final against Afghanistan at the eighth attempt earlier this week, looked poised to reach their target of 177 after Heinrich Klaassen (52 off 27) robbed Akshar Patel of 24 in the 15th over to reduce the required runs to 30 off 30.
However, Jasprit Bumrah (2-18) gave away just sixes combined from the 16th and 18th overs, during which Klaassen got out Hardik Pandya (3-20) and the Proteas could only manage four from Arshdeep Singh’s 19th over, leaving their new requirement at 16 for six.
David Miller (21 off 17) thought he had smashed Hardik’s first full toss for a six but Suryakumar produced a brilliant catch at long-off, catching the ball and putting it back into play before it tumbled towards the ropes and then catching it again as he returned to the field.
South Africa could only manage eight more runs, finishing at 169 for 8. India became the first team in Men’s T20 World Cup history to go through the tournament unbeaten, ending the Proteas’ hopes of achieving an unbeaten record on their own.
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In the final over of the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav displayed incredible agility to flick the ball off the boundary to dismiss David Miller.
India last won an ICC international tournament in the Champions Trophy in 2013 and their previous World Cup triumph was in the 50-over tournament in 2011.
India’s T20 win came seven months after their loss to Australia in the 50-over World Cup final in Ahmedabad – their only defeat in the tournament – and history would not repeat itself.
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Watch as India defeats South Africa in Barbados to be crowned T20 World Cup champions.
Kohli scores again in thrilling World Cup final
Virat Kohli (76 off 59 balls), who was earlier named man of the match and had already announced his retirement from T20 internationals, had a poor performance in the tournament, averaging less than 11 with a maximum score of 75 in seven innings and a highest score of 37, but he performed well to help India to a total of 176-7 after India slumped to 34-3 inside the fifth over.
Rohit Sharma’s side were on the back foot when their captain (9) and Rishabh Pant (0) removed Keshav Maharaj in the second over and their predicament worsened three overs later when Suryakumar (3) got rid of Kagiso Rabada.
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Virat Kohli was back to his best form when India really needed him, scoring a crucial 76 in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
But Kohli, who hit three boundaries in Marco Jansen’s first over of 15, found an excellent ally in the enterprising Akshar (47 off 31), who commanded a fourth-wicket stand of 72 off 54 balls before being run out by a brilliant run-out by Quinton de Kock.
Kohli also forged a half-century partnership with Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls) to reach his 38th T20 international fifty in 38 balls before being caught at deep midwicket by Jansen in the penultimate over.
India scored the highest score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final, surpassing the 173-2 recorded by Australia against New Zealand in the 2021 final in the UAE, but Maharaj (2-23) and Anrich Nortje (2-26) kept their opponents to a tolerable score.
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Check out Quinton de Kock smashing this massive six from Kensington Oval in the T20 World Cup final.
Victory for South Africa seemed out of reach as Reeza Hendricks (4) was run out by a brilliant outswing from Bumrah and captain Aiden Markram (4) edged past Arshdeep to see the Proteas plummet to 12 for 2.
De Kock (39 off 31) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21) inspired the debutants in the final with a quick-fire 58, including a six from De Kock off Kuldeep Yadav that was wide off the ground.
Stubbs was hit with a ball around leg by Akshar but de Kock and Klaassen added 36 runs from 23 balls thereafter, when de Kock was caught at deep fine leg (just after hitting a four in the area), Klaassen and Miller hit boundaries and Klaassen hit three successive balls off Akshar to put South Africa in the lead.
However, two modest overs from Bumrah, including beating Jansen, got India back into the match and his effort was successful, while an incredible catch from Suryakumar in Bridgetown went a long way to breaking South African hearts.
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South Africa captain Aiden Markram has admitted it will take his team some time to bounce back from their defeat to India in the final over of the T20 World Cup final.
What’s next?
The next global tournament for men’s cricket will be the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February and March, featuring the hosts as well as India, South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Another T20 World Cup will then be held in early 2026 between India and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh will also host the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024, which will begin in Dhaka on Thursday, October 3 and conclude in the city on Sunday, October 20.
The top two teams from each first round group will advance to the semi-finals.
Women’s T20 World Cup Groups
- Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Scotland
All matches in the Women’s T20 World Cup will be shown live on Sky Sports, with the opening match between England and South Africa taking place on Thursday 3 October (kickoff at 10am UK & Irish time).