After a 17-year break, Indian bowlers shine in a high-stakes encounter against the Proteas to win their second T20 World Cup.
BARBADOS: In the highly anticipated final of the mega-tournament, India defeated South Africa's hopes of winning a maiden T20 World Cup by defending the 176-run total.

After a 17-year break, the Men in Blue won their second T20 World Cup; they had previously won a world cup in the shorter version in 2007.

After defeating Pakistan in the final to earn their maiden T20 World Cup championship in 2007, Rohit Sharma and company joined England and the West Indies to win the tournament twice.

India was all but guaranteed to lose, but in the 16th and 17th overs, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya changed the course of events in favor of Rohit Sharma's team.


The Proteas struggled to chase the goal, losing two wickets in Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram, but South Africa regained control thanks to a 68-run stand between Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs.

Heinrich Klaasen had taken Axar Patel to task, thrashing him for 22 runs in the 15th over, leaving South Africa with everything in their hands. The Proteas appeared to be the clear favorites to win the match, but India's never-say-die mentality took things away from them in the closing overs.

When Pandya dismissed Klaasen after 52 runs, South Africa's problems began. With Suryakumar Yadav taking one of the greatest matches of the tournament, Pandya removed David Miller on the first delivery of the final over, leaving the Proteas needing 16 runs to win.

After eight overs allotted, the Proteas were 169-8 at the end of their innings. Pandya took three wickets for India, Arshdeep and Bumrah each took two, and Patel claimed one wicket.

With the help of six fours and two sixes, Virat Kohli top-scored for the Indian team earlier in the first innings with 76 runs on 59 balls.

India got off to a fantastic start, scoring 15 runs in the opening over thanks to three fours from Kohli to Marco Jensen. India's aggressive approach was maintained by Rohit Sharma, but the captain lost his wicket in the second over after hitting two boundaries against Keshav Maharaj.

In the same over, wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant also lost his wicket shortly after the 37-year-old was dismissed.

After Kagiso Rabada dismissed Suryakumar Yadav, India suffered yet another setback as the Blues defeated them 34-3 in 4.3 overs. Although it appeared like Sharma's team might fall apart quickly, a crucial breakthrough was made when Kohli and Axar Patel combined for 72 runs.