BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — India recorded a sensational seven-run victory against South Africa in a thrilling Twenty20 World Cup final on Saturday.
South Africa, playing in their first ICC tournament final, needed a run-a-ball 30 to win, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen’s belligerent 52 from 27 balls.
But Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, who shared seven wickets between them, roared back at the death to topple South Africa at 169-8.
Kohli’s maiden half-century of the tournament, in what he later revealed to be his last T20 international, anchored India to 176-7 after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat.
“The guys understand when the pressure is on what needs to be done,” Sharma said. “Today was a perfect example, (we) stood together with our backs to the wall. We really wanted that… very proud of the group of boys and the management.”
India won their second T20 World Cup but their first world title in 13 years. The frustration was growing. In the last 12 months, India has lost the World Test Championship final and, most gruelingly, the 50-over World Cup final at home.
But South Africa’s disgust is on another level. It reached its climax undefeated – India too – and seemed to finally end the World Cup mess.
South Africa raced to 147-4 in 15 overs when Klaasen hit three sixes and a four off left-arm spinner Axar Patel, which cost India 24 runs.
But pace ace Bumrah conceded just six runs in his next two overs and in between, Pandya caught the dangerous Klaasen behind.
David Miller couldn’t score much despite scoring 21 and left-arm fast bowler Singh conceded just four in the penultimate over. This gave Pandya a 16-run margin to defend from the last over.
On Pandya’s first ball, Miller was dismissed when Suryakumar Yadav took a brilliant juggling catch at the edge of the long boundary and sealed the result.
“Destroyed,” said South Africa captain Aiden Markram. “It hurts a little, but incredibly proud. We were never comfortable, things happen quickly in the end, but we were in a great position to prove we were worthy finalists.”
Earlier, Kohli, who registered just 75 runs in seven games, hit 76 off 59 balls with six fours and two sixes after India were in early trouble at 34-3 in the first five overs.
Patel absorbed the pressure well after being promoted to No. 5, hitting four sixes in his quick 31-ball 47, and got India back on track by sharing a 72-run stand with Kohli.
Kohli completed his half-century off 48 balls in the 17th over, then accelerated by hitting big sixes against Kagiso Rabada (1-36) and Marco Jansen (1-49). Kohli hit deep in the penultimate over.
“This was my last T20 World Cup and this is what we wanted to achieve,” Kohli said. “I did the work for the team on the day that mattered. It’s time for the next generation to take over, some incredible players will take the team forward and keep the flag flying high.”
Shivam Dube made 27 off 16 balls and fell in the last over of Anrich Nortje (2-26) as India scored 58 runs in the last five overs.
Kohli made India fly when he hit left-arm fast bowler Jansen for three boundaries in the first over, and skipper Sharma hit left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (2-23) for two fours in his first two balls.
But Maharaj struck twice in his first over when Sharma was brilliantly caught by Klaasen at square leg, and Rishabh Pant got the edge of the bat while attempting a reverse sweep and took a simple catch behind the wickets.
Klaasen shone again in the outfield when he caught Yadav at fine leg to Rabada’s short ball, before Patel and Kohli rebuilt the innings.
Patel was dismissed from a brilliant direct delivery by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock when he deftly intercepted Kohli’s shot and hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
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