Strong comeback from India after being reduced to 34/3 in the powerplay on a pitch that’s dry and on the slower side. Maharaj rocked them early, getting rid of Rohit and Pant in the second over, and the hole got deeper when Rabada removed Surya cheaply as well. However, Kohli dropped anchor and was helped in a big way by Axar Patel who did most of the heavy lifting after being promoted up the order to lead the recovery for India. Axar’s superb 47, and a late flourish from both Kohli and Dube – the two players have struggled all tournament – have taken them to a strong total here in Barbados. Marco Jansen had an off day for South Africa, giving away 49 off his four overs. There is grip for spinners on this pitch, and India will fancy their chances. Highest scores in a T20 WC final 85 – Kane Williamson vs AUS 2021 85 – Marlon Samuels vs ENG, 2016 78 – Marlon Samuels vs SL, 2012 77 – Mitchell Marsh vs NZ, 2021 77 – Virat Kohli vs SL, 2014 76 – Virat Kohli vs SA, 2024* 75 – Gautam Gambhir vs PAK, 2007 Virat Kohli in this tournament before today: 75 runs (7 inns) today: 76 runs, 59 balls Virat Kohli scores in the T20 WC finals 77 (58) vs SL, Mirpurr, 2014 76 (59) vs SA, Bridgetown, 2024 Highest team total in T20 WC final 176/7 – IND vs SA, Bridgetown, 2024* 173/2 – AUS vs NZ, Dubai, 2021 172/4 – NZ vs AUS, Dubai, 2021 161/6 – WI vs ENG, Kolkata, 2016 157/5 – IND vs PAK, Jo’burg, 2007 Rohit Sharma walks away from the crowd just for a moment with himself. He can’t hide his tears himself. A look towards the heaves as if to validate that there is a God after all. After multiple heartbreaks, multiple knockout eliminations, India’s cricketers can cry happy tears after all. A teardrop trickles down Virat Kohli’s eyes too, he’s chased after this trophy since 2009, and finally he can get his hands on it probably in the twilight of his T20I career. Now to the game. India managed to get 176 runs on the board as Virat Kohli scored his first fifty of the tournament. He anchored through after Rohit and Rishabh were put early, and many might have questioned his intent had the result gone the other way, but for now it will be celebrated as a master knock by the man who knows exactly how to accelerate in this format. Shivam Dube and Axar Patel got handy contributions for India too. In reply, Hendricks was knocked over by a superb Bumrah outswinger and Markram fell cheaply as well. However, Stubbs played well against the spinners and got South Africa in the ascendency after the powerplay. He was dismissed but de Kock and Klaasen stitched together a partnership. Klaasen was in a murderous mood as he got to a 23-ball fifty, and took down Axar for a 24 run over. The equation was down to 30 off the last five overs, but India’s pacers managed to pull a real rabbit out of the bag. Virat Kohli | PoTM: This was my last T20 World Cup, this is exactly what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel like you can’t get a run and this happens, God is great. Just the occasion, now or never kind of situation. This was my last T20 game playing for India. We wanted to lift that cup. Wanted to Yes I have, this was an open secret. Not something that I wasn’t going to announce even if we had lost. Time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward. It’s been a long wait for us, waiting to win an ICC tournament. You look at someone like Rohit, he’s played 9 T20 World Cups and this is my sixth. He deserves it. It’s been difficult to hold things (emotions) back and I think it’s going to sink in later. It’s an amazing day and I’m thankful. Jasprit Bumrah | Player of the Tournament: Usually I’m the one who tries to keep my emotions in check and get the job done but today I don’t have many words, I don’t usually cry after a game but the emotions are taking over. We were in trouble but we’re really over the moon to win from that stage. My family is here, we came close last time and we got the job done, there’s no better feeling than to get your team through in a game like this. It just felt good, tried to keep myself in a bubble and tried not to think too far ahead. When the big day comes, you have to do it, throughout the tournament I felt very clear. I always think about one ball and one over at a time, don’t think too far ahead. Emotions can take over, it was taking over but you have to keep it in check but now that the game is over, it can come out and you can scream and shout. (When he was asked to bowl the 16th over) I saw the ball was a bit scuffed up and it would reverse a bit, thought which would be the most difficult shot for the batter and was able to execute it. Only the 3rd time a team won the T20 WC final while defending the target after India in 2007 and West Indies in 2012.
