India Bring the T20 World Cup Home after 17 years: Relive the Story

On 29th June, 2024, history was carved by the Indian Cricket Team as they clinched the World Cup title by beating South Africa with the barest of margins. Everyone watching the game live was sitting on the edge of their seats, as the course of the game kept changing rapidly. For a major part of the game, it was a see-saw ride as momentum was shifting with a blink of an eye. But ultimately, it was the men in blue that held their nerve and crossed the finish line. 

Credit: Hindustan Times

In this article by ZAP, let's relive India's Victory in the 2024 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup. 

India vs South Africa - ICC 2024 T20 World Cup Final

The 2024 T20 World Cup was to be played at the Kensington Oval Cricket Ground, with both teams, India and South Africa performing well in the group stages and knockouts to make it into the finals. The final match had a lot of context attached, with South Africa, the ever chokers in big matches, and the Indian team as the close runner ups in the 2023 World Cup Final.

India's Top Order Failure, Yet Again!

The match started with India batting first. Rohit Sharma and Kohli, the super duo, took their mark  and were good to go. Kohli started off quite well smashing 3 boundaries off Marco Jansen in the first over itself. Then came in Keshav Maharaj, bowling in power play, giving a big blow to the Indian batting, picking up the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the same over. In the 5th over, Suryakumar Yadav, the number one ranked T20 batter, too, departed cheaply. 

Virat Kohli and Axar Patel - The Anchor to the Innings

Responding to the situation, Indians were on the back foot. Virat Kohli and Axar Patel decided to slow things down as they chipped singles and doubles for next few overs. They both stabilized the innings and played crucial knocks of 76(59) and 47(31) respectively. 

Axar Patel got dismissed in the 14th over and after that the pinch hitters - Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja took charge. Virat Kohli played one of the best innings under pressure and almost batted till the end. By the end of 20 overs, India's total was 176/7.

India's Bowling Attack - The Saviours

It wasn't a steep task for the South Africans to chase down the target at that wicket, which seemed decent to bat on. But, one thing that we've all come to realize is that you cannot stop Jasprit Bumrah ever from shining and being a star with the new leather ball ever since he has made his debut for the Indian team.He dwas brought into attack in the second over and dismissed one of SA's openers, Reeza Hendricks with a peach of a hitting the top of off stump. Soon, Aiden Markram was also dismissed and India looked in complete control of the game.

The South African Counter Attack

After the early wickets fell, Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs took things in the own hands and stitched a quality partnership with a brisk strike rate. Axar Patel managed to dismiss Stubbs and de Cock was sent back to the pavilion soon after. But then came India's nightmare Heinrich Klaasen. He was in insane form ever since the IPL began and carried his form into this match as well. The spin bowling trick that worked for India in the entire tournament had lost its magic when Klaasen faced the ball. He smacked all of India's spinners, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel very comfortably. At this point, South Africa managed to bring the equation to a run a ball situation in the last 5 over.

The Miracle for India finally arrived

It was at this moment, Hardik Pandya came in like the Knight in Shining Armour and gave everyone desperate hope. He took the crucial wicket of Klaasen just after he had crossed his quick fire 50.

Jasprit Bumrah, too delivered what he does the best, this time with ever more perfection - his death bowling. He bowled his two overs without conceding a single boundary also picking up Marco Jansen's wicket, which gave India a large space to breathe. 

Hopes were alive again, but one major task was still left. Last over, South Africa needed 16 runs and David Miller was on strike. Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Hardik Pandya for the final over of the World Cup and the drama did not take any time. David Miller smacked a full toss straight down the ground only for Suryakumar Yadav to complete an extraordinary catch with a brilliant piece of fielding under pressure. South Africa had no batter's left who could win the match from his equation and India ultimate won the tournament after 17 years.

India's Hunt for the ICC Trophy finally ended

India's pursuit for an ICC Trophy finally ended after 11 years since 2013. 2024 will always hold a special place in everyone’s heart. We all have seen the Indian team eliminating in knock outs on various occasions in the last 10 years. The 2023 finals loss was the toughest. So, when Rohit won the cup, he even won the hearts of every spectator donned in an Indian jersey. 

Just after winning the trophy, we saw players letting their emotions out in the victory lap. It was a mixed bag, while Virat Kohli on one hand was filled with gratitude and was purely overwhelmed, Hardik Pandya on the other hand was in tears. We even saw Rohit Sharma having a piece of mud as a gesture to remember the most important venue of his career all his life. 

Indian team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. In the group stage, they defeated Ireland , Pakistan, United States and Canada at New York. Then they shifted their base to West Indies where they turned victories in all three occasions- against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Australia. After that, in the knockouts, they defeated England in the semis. It was a dream tournament for everyone supporting India, with every piece of the puzzle coming together at the right time.

Now that you have read about India's Victory in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, here are some more articles we recommend you read:

ICC T20 World Cup Winners List | ICC ODI World Cup Winners List | India's Victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup