PA Media/DPA/Agencies
Bridgetown (Barbados)
India’s decade-long cricket trophy drought is over after a stunning spell from Jasprit Bumrah and a sensational late catch from Suryakumar Yadav carried them to a thrilling seven-run T20 World Cup final victory against South Africa.
The two sides, both unbeaten on their way to the showpiece, served up a see-saw classic at the Kensington Oval in Barbados with India only sure of their first piece of men’s silverware since 2013 in the last over of this month-long competition.
A furious knock of 52 from 27 balls from Heinrich Klaasen had put the Proteas in sight of their first ever global title but their unwanted tag as tournament ‘chokers’ will not go away after they failed to get over the line from the winning position he created.
Chasing 177, they needed just 30 runs from 30 balls with five wickets in hand but fell apart under pressure at the death to finish 168 for eight.
A delighted India captain Rohit Sharma, who lifted an ICC trophy after 17 long years, said, “I am so proud of all of my boys and the management for giving us the liberty and trusting in each one of us.” Player of the tournament, India bowler Jasprit Bumrah: “I am someone who tries to keep my emotions in check but the emotions are taking over right now. This is such a special feeling.” Bumrah was the architect of their downfall, re-entering the attack with his side seemingly on the floor at the start of the 16th.
Already an undisputed master of his craft, he only raised his reputation as he gave up just six runs from his next two overs and added the wicket of Marco Jansen to finish with two for 18.
It was a jaw-dropping display of menace and control from the best bowler in the world and left South Africa flailing from a position of strength. Remarkably, they might still have won it despite needing 16 off the 20th over.
David Miller clubbed the first ball from Hardik Pandya down the ground and would have had six had it not been for some amazingly deft work from Yadav, whose safe hands were complimented by brilliant footwork as he danced around the boundary rope and pulled off a one-man relay catch.
India had earlier relied on Virat Kohli’s 76 to get them to 176 for seven, the highest score in a T20 World Cup final.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram said, “Gutted. We’ve had a great campaign but this hurts.
“South African people are competitive, but they are respectful. We pride ourselves on that. Hopefully moving forward we can learn from this and use it.
“This will always be a proud day for us, regardless.” India’s innings was built around Kohli, who had only made two double-figure scores in the tournament.
Here he notched his third within five balls by driving and flicking Jansen for three fours in the first over.
India were flying when Rohit hit the first two balls of the second over for four, but after the captain swept spinner Keshav Maharaj to square leg, the Proteas fought back superbly.
Rishabh Pant chipped up a full toss for a duck and the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav was caught at fine leg but, from 34-3, Kohli was able to play the role he knows best.
He did not hit a boundary between the fourth and 18th overs. Axar Patel, promoted to provide a left-handed option, instead provided the attack with 47, including two fine hits over long-on, in a partnership of 72.
Shivam Dube added impetus with his 16-ball 27 as Kohli’s next support act.
In the 18th over, Kohli cut loose, striking Rabada superbly over long-on, pulling the next ball for four and in the 19th he whipped Jansen on to the roof of the pavilion.
The 50-over World Cup, where Kohli was the tournament’s leading scorer, was supposed to be the white-ball great’s crowning glory.
In the end, it came on the other side of the world eight months later, with Kohli confirming this was his final T20 World Cup appearance.
