India beat South Africa to win T20 World Cup 2024

India clinched the T20 World Cup 2024, defeating South Africa by a mere seven runs in a heart-stopping final at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, on Saturday. South Africa, aiming for their first-ever world title, came agonizingly close in their pursuit of 177, fueled by impressive batting from Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen.

The match began with Marco Jansen's costly opening over, but Keshav Maharaj quickly turned the tide by dismissing Rohit Sharma, caught by Klaasen, and then Rishabh Pant, caught by de Kock, in the second over. Kagiso Rabada claimed the crucial wicket of Suryakumar Yadav for just three runs in the fifth over, with Klaasen again providing the catch.

Virat Kohli and Axar Patel built a crucial 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which ended due to a combination of poor running and sharp fielding. De Kock’s swift throw to the non-striker’s end caught Axar short of his ground. Shivam Dube then joined Kohli, adding a valuable 57-run stand before South Africa's bowlers made breakthroughs in the final overs. Kohli’s resilient innings concluded at 76 when he holed out to Rabada at long-on off Jansen's delivery. Anrich Nortje continued his stellar form by taking two wickets in the final over, dismissing Dube and then Ravindra Jadeja on the last ball.

In South Africa's innings, early wickets tumbled as Jasprit Bumrah bowled Reeza Hendricks in the second over, followed by Aiden Markram edging Arshdeep Singh behind. De Kock, showcasing excellent form, partnered with Tristan Stubbs for a 58-run stand off 38 balls. Stubbs’ dismissal by Axar Patel for 31 brought Klaasen to the crease, needing over 100 runs. Despite de Kock's valuable 39, he was eventually caught by Kuldeep Yadav off Arshdeep's bowling.

David Miller joined Klaasen, and their aggressive batting reduced the required run-rate to a run a ball with 30 runs remaining. Klaasen, after scoring 52, nicked Hardik Pandya behind in the 17th over, leaving South Africa at 151/5. Marco Jansen was soon dismissed by Bumrah, increasing the required run-rate with 20 needed off the last two overs. Miller, attempting a six off Hardik, was caught by Suryakumar Yadav on the boundary, falling for 21.

Keshav Maharaj and Rabada tried to maintain the chase but succumbed to Hardik’s bowling, with Rabada caught by Suryakumar. Anrich Nortje managed a single, but South Africa ultimately fell eight runs short, sealing India’s victory in an epic final.