India won by Seven runs at the finals against South Africa. / X/@ICC

Gallant India snatched a splendid win from the jaws of a certain defeat against South Africa,  thanks to some superb bowling in death overs by Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah, as they restricted South Africa to 168 in 20 overs.

The Proteas (South Africa) were once sitting pretty at 151 for 4 in 16 overs. India won by 7 runs to regain the coveted T20 trophy after a gap of 17 years.

Earlier, star batter Virat Kohli fired his cannon to help Men in Blue put up a fighting total of 176 for six on a day threatened by inclement weather. Contrary to forecasts and predictions, the final went full length without interruptions as both teams displayed whatever they had in their weaponry in the fight for T20 supremacy.

It was a final in which cricket won. Batters and bowlers from both sides gave an excellent account of themselves, as there were fireworks with the bat, stupendous pieces of fielding and catches and superb bowling that sustained the excitement throughout the game and had a thrilling finish.

As the last ball, a dot ball was delivered by Hardik Pandya, the Indian community worldwide went into jubilation, celebrating a great triumph. Celebrations broke loose everywhere, including New York, Toronto, Mumbai, New Delhi and other major cities and towns.

Indian PM Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate Rohit Sharma and his men on their excellent performance in the T20 World Cup.

At one stage, the match looked drifting out of the grip of the Indians against first-time finalists South Africa. The Proteas were comfortably placed at 151 for four in 16 overs with Heinrich Klassen in full flow. After his dismissal by Hardik Pandya, the game swung back in India’s favour. He made 52 from 27 balls. In the 18th over, Jasprit Bumrah not only sent back Marco Jansen but also conceded only two runs to make South Africa 157 for six. Arshdeep also delivered well in the 19th conceding four runs in his fourth and last over to end up with two for 20.

The 20th over, the last of the death overs, saw a pulsating drama. Hardik Pandya did the trick for India by claiming two wickets. It was absolute ecstasy for Rohit Sharma and his men. The Men in Blues did it at last. They had fumbled at the last hurdle at the  2023 ODI World Cup in Ahmedabad. But this time they succeeded in bringing an ICC Trophy to the Indian cabinet.

Pacers – Arshdeep Singh (2/20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/19) – were reliable and delivered. Throughout the tournament, they delivered as and when was required of them.

The only disappointment for India came from its spinners. The wicket was not as helpful as it was in the initial stages of the game when it helped Keshav Maharaj to rock the Indian innings at its beginning. The first four overs by  Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav conceded 40 runs before Axar claimed the valuable wicket of Tristan Stubbs to break the 58-run third-wicket partnership. Kuldeep remained wicketless for 45 from his 4 overs while Jadeja ended with 0/12 from one over. Axar finished with 1/49.

The toast of Indian bowling, however, was Hardik Pandya who turned the tide in favour of India in his third over by claiming the wicket of David Miller on the first ball and of Kagiso Rabada on the fifth ball before bowling a dot ball to finish the innings with superb figures of three for 19.

He owes it to Suryakumar Yadav, who leapt in the air to pluck a stupendous catch to dismiss the dangerous-looking David Miller with the first ball of his third over.  The catch needed a third umpire review before being upheld as it was over the ropes. Once Miller was gone for 21 made from 17 balls, the match looked safe in Indian custody.

India won the toss and decided to bat first. Though Virat Kohli returned to form to exhibit patches of his brilliance, India did not get to a dream start it expected its campaign to win back the T20 Trophy after a gap of 17 years. Skipper Rohit Sharma and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant were back in the pavilion as the scoreboard read a dismal 23 for 2 in 2 overs. Keshav Maharaj, who opened the bowling with Marco Jansen, did the initial damage claiming both the wickets at a personal cost of 8 runs in his first over.

India got its third jolt when dependable Suryakumar Yadav left with an individual score of 3. Struggling at 34 for three in 4.3 overs, Indian hopes of a good total were revived when Axar Patel came ahead of Shivam Dube to push up both the score and the run rate.

Once Virat Kohli took the command – he was initially harsh on South African opening bowler Marco Jansen – he did not look back. He found a sound partner in Axar Patel as the two started repairing the initial damage to the Indian innings. The aggressor in the beginning, Virat Kohli decided to play sheet anchor as he preferred singles and doubles to keep his end intact while Axar Patel was in full flow.

At one stage he overtook Virat Kohli with his hits to the maximum when he slammed Kagiso Rabada for his third six. He was unfortunately run out, following brilliant work by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. He made 47 from 31 balls and was the fourth Indian batsman to go. Earlier, India hoisted its 100 on the board from 13.1 overs.

After completing his 50 from 48 balls, Virat Kohli opened, celebrating his fifty with a superb six off Rabada, followed with a couple and a beautiful boundary to take 13 off 4 balls in the 18th over at the end of which the score reached 150 for four. His 50-run partnership with Shivam Dube came in the 19th over. Kohli had another hit to the maximum before giving Marco Jansen his first wicket. Marco Jansen came for maximum punishment from Indian batters conceding 49 runs in 4 overs.