India scripted a historic comeback on Saturday, defeating South Africa by a narrow margin of 7 runs in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. This victory ends a 17-year trophy drought for the Men in Blue, sparking jubilation across the nation.
The match itself was a nail-biter, with India posting a competitive 176/7 on the board thanks to a gritty 76 from Virat Kohli. Chasing the target, South Africa looked poised for victory at one stage, but some excellent bowling by the Indian pacers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah, who was named Player of the Tournament, restricted their flow. The turning point came when Suryakumar Yadav took a spectacular catch at the boundary to dismiss David Miller, effectively snatching victory from the jaws of defeat for India.
The win was met with emotional celebrations from the players and fans alike. Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a record prize money of Rs 125 crore for the winning team, reflecting the significance of this achievement.
Adding another layer to the emotional rollercoaster, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from T20 internationals, following in the footsteps of his teammates Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli who had made similar announcements earlier.
This historic win and the emotional farewells of some of India’s cricketing legends will undoubtedly be etched in the memories of fans for years to come.