It was a night where hearts stopped, fingernails were chewed to the bone, and history was written in Barbados. The T20 World Cup 2024 final between two undefeated sides, India and South Africa, delivered arguably the greatest T20 match of all time.
It ended an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy for India, but not before a rollercoaster of emotions that saw South Africa nearly snatch their first-ever World Cup title. The highlights of this match are not just cricket; they are cinema.
The Kohli-Axar Rescue Act
Winning the toss and batting first on a decent Kensington Oval surface, India’s start was nightmare fuel. Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav all fell inside the powerplay, leaving India reeling at 34/3.
Enter the man for the big occasion, Virat Kohli. Having struggled throughout the tournament, Kohli anchored himself, initially playing cautiously. The masterstroke, however, was promoting Axar Patel up the order. Axar played a fearless, counter-attacking knock (47 off 31) that shifted the momentum back to India.
Kohli eventually accelerated, finishing with a crucial 76 off 59 balls, and a late flurry from Shivam Dube dragged India to a competitive total of 176/7.
The Klaasen Storm
South Africa’s chase began shakily, losing early wickets to Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. However, Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs steadied the ship, setting the stage for Heinrich Klaasen.
Klaasen absolutely dismantled India’s spinners, smashing massive sixes and bringing the equation down to a run-a-ball. With 30 runs needed off 30 balls and a set Klaasen and David Miller at the crease, the game seemed all but over for India. The faces of the Indian players and fans told the story of impending heartbreak.
The Death Bowling Masterclass & That Catch
Then happened perhaps the greatest five-over spell in Indian T20 history. Hardik Pandya returned to remove the dangerous Klaasen, breaking the pivotal partnership.
What followed was a squeeze of epic proportions. Jasprit Bumrah bowled two unbelievable overs at the death, conceding almost nothing and removing Marco Jansen with an absolute jaffa. Arshdeep Singh held his nerve in the penultimate over, leaving Hardik Pandya to defend 16 runs in the final over.
The first ball of the 20th over changed everything. David Miller connected with a full toss, sending it soaring toward long-off. It looked like a certain six until Suryakumar Yadav sprinted, caught the ball on the boundary rope, threw it up as his momentum took him over, and hopped back in to complete one of the greatest catches in cricket history.
The Emotional Farewell
The scenes post-match were pure emotion. Tears flowed freely from captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. It was the perfect send-off for head coach Rahul Dravid.
In the aftermath, both legends, Virat Kohli (Player of the Match) and Rohit Sharma, announced their retirement from T20 Internationals, fittingly bowing out as world champions.
This match had everything: collapses, rescues, power-hitting, legendary bowling, and a fielding moment for the ages. It was truly a final fitting of a World Cup.
If you missed it, or just want to relive the heart-stopping drama, watch the full highlights below. Here is a breakdown of the moments that defined this historic final.
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