IND VS SA T20I

Right then, what a T20 World Cup we have just witnessed. Cricket was brought to the States and the people welcomed it with open arms. The Caribbean flavour provided some immaculate excitement and we saw some stellar matches with the minnows making their mark as well. There were numerous moments throughout the tournament that will be forever etched in the memory of the players and the fans alike. Eventually, the two unbeaten teams, India and South Africa rightfully met in the final but only one of them could become the first men's side to win the T20 World Cup without losing a game and it was India who edged the Proteas in a thrilling finale to clinch their second crown. However, as all good things come to an end, this wonderful spectacle has come to an end as well, but we hope, you guys have enjoyed it as much as we have. Until next time then, take care and goodbye!

The moment has now come for Rohit Sharma to go onto the podium and lift that coveted trophy! The Indian players join him on the podium and there are fireworks all around as the buoyant Indian players rejuvenate. The outgoing national team coach, Rahul Dravid watches on but moments later, he too joins the players and the smile on his face says it all.

Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, says that it is very hard to sum up what they have been through over the last 3-4 years and this is the result of all the hard work that went down over that period. Feels that they know what to do in such high-pressure games and they stuck together as a team today when the backs were against the wall. Tells that they needed this win really bad and a lot has gone behind the scenes. Says that he is really proud of the boys and the management for giving them liberty. States that nobody was in doubt about Virat Kohli's form. Adds that they know the quality he has and come the occasion the big players will stand up. Feels that Virat's experience came through on a wicket where starting was not easy. Lauds Hardik Pandya for bowling that last over. Says that the fans were fantastic and he is sure that people in India will be up late at night, watching this.

Next up, the players of the champion Indian team come up one by one and collect their winners medals.

Aiden Markram, the skipper of South Africa starts by saying that he is gutted for the time being and it will take some time for them to reflect on this excellent campaign. Adds that the bowlers bowled well and didn't have much help from the pitch and it all came to the wire and even though it didn't happen, he is incredibly proud of his players. Mentions that in most of their games in this campaign, it wasn't over till the last ball and things could change quickly but they proved they were worthy finalists and it just didn't happen today. Adds that one thing is guaranteed that they will be known as people who are grounded but very good fighters and it is a proud moment for them.

Next up, the valiant runners-up team, South Africa get their runners-up cheque and the players come up one by one to collect their medals.

West Indian T20 World Cup winner and the man who got them that iconic victory in 2016 against England, 'Remember the Name', Carlos Braithwaite places the Trophy on the podium.

Let's now hear from some of the Indian players. Mohammed Siraj says that his only belief was on Jasprit Bumrah to turn the game around. He says that he can't explain this feeling and that every player's dream is to win the World Cup. Ends by thanking the Almighty for this win. Hardik Pandya is up next for a chat. He says that he is very emotional and has been working hard for the last few months but it wasn't clicking for him. Shares that this win is even more special for him, given how the last six months have been for him. Feels that if you keep working hard, your time to shine will come. Axar Patel is the next man to chime in. He says that this win means everything to him and he always wanted to do something for the team. Shares that he tried to keep it simple and just thought of it as another game. States that he did not think what would happen had he got out. Further says that Rohit Sharma led the side well and the head coach, Rahul Dravid asked them to enjoy and not to take the pressure.

Jasprit Bumrah is the Player of the Tournament. Bumrah says that usually he is the one who tries to keep his emotions in check but the emotions are taking over and it is an unreal feeling. Adds that he is over the moon and his family is here and they have come close on previous occasions but to get your team through is a surreal feeling. Mentions that he was trying to keep himself in a bubble and not think too far ahead. Adds that he doesn't look at it like all the pressure is on him and he tries to take it one over at a time. Ends by saying that it was under run a ball when he came back in the 16th over and the ball was scuffed up and he knew it would reverse a bit.

Virat Kohli is the Player of the Match in the Final for his stellar knock. Kohli starts by saying that this was his last T20 World Cup and feels that it is time for the next generation to take over. Mentions that one day you feel like you cannot get a run and then this happens. Further says that it was a now-or-never kind of situation. Shares that the announcement of this being his last T20 game was an open secret. Adds that he would have announced it even if they had lost the final. Tells that it is difficult to hold emotions back and feels that it is going to sink in later.

Earlier in the game, Rohit Sharma won the toss and had no hesitation batting first which has been the norm for the Indian team - setting targets and defending them throughout this World Cup. After early setbacks and some stellar bowling from the Proteas, Virat Kohli was the beacon of hope for India and played an anchor knock after a fast start. The teams traded blows after blows. Kohli went into overdrive mode after reaching his fifty but the South African pacers managed to end things pretty well.

There are tears in the South African camp as well but those of heartbreak and they could feel the trophy slip out of their grasp in those death overs. Quinton de Kock set the tempo up top and even when the likes of Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram flopped, de Kock and Tristan Stubbs got their side in a position of promise. Stubbs fell and so did de Kock after a while but it really was Heinrich Klaasen who turned on the heat and played the knock of his life at the biggest stage. However, his seemingly title-clinching knock was cut short at a vital stage and from that point on, the Proteas simply couldn't get going. They crumbled under pressure and all eyes were on David Miller but he left things too late and was caught brilliantly in the deep by Suryakumar Yadav which was the final nail in the coffin. So close yet so far for South Africa yet again and their hunt for a maiden ICC trophy at the senior level continues.

India have pulled a rabbit out of the hat here! When Axar Patel conceded 24 runs in that 15th over, everything seemed over but the pacers fought back valiantly and that catch from Suryakumar Yadav really was the cherry on the top. After having set a target of 177 runs for the Proteas, the pacers began on the money and even though they got hit for a few boundaries, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh managed to pick up a wicket each to balance things out. The spinners couldn't deliver and were put away for plenty of runs in the middle overs. Hardik Pandya too stepped up and provided fantastic support to the frontline pacers. The last five overs were simply phenomenal from the Indian pacers and didn't allow South Africa any breathing space and kept the pressure on with dot balls and wickets at the same time. Eventually, their hard work shone through and they managed to defend the score by 7 runs to send over a billion people into ecstasy.

INDIA ARE T20 WORLD CHAMPIONS AFTER 17 YEARS! It's been a long, long wait for India and they now join West Indies and England as the only three teams to have won the Men's T20 World Cup two times. You really couldn't ask for more, what a grand finale we have had here in Barbados and both sides gave it their all! The Indian players are up in ecstasy and the playing field is flooded by the dugout. The crowd is at the top of its lungs and it's another heartbreak for South Africa, they simply couldn't get it done. Rohit Sharma is down in tears, as he was after the 2023 World Cup final - but this time, these are tears of joy. You really have to hand it to the Indian side, they were down and out but what redemption this is for the Men in Blue.

INDIA HAVE PULLED OFF A HEIST TO BECOME THE 2024 ICC MEN'S T20 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS! Hardik Pandya has done it for the Men in Blue! Absolute ecstasy for Rohit Sharma and his men. Agony for South Africa. Pandya hurls it full and slanting in, on middle and leg, Anrich Nortje backs away to have a swipe across the line. Gets it off the inner half of the bat and it dribbles to deep mid-wicket for just a single and the Proteas are in utter disbelief, spare a thought for them, they fought bravely but the Indians had more experience at this stage. A 7-run victory for the Men in Blue and emotions are running wild on the field.

Anrich Nortje is the new man in for South Africa.

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! That should be the game and the World Cup to India! Final nail in the coffin for South Africa. Full and going across the left-hander, on off, Kagiso Rabada looks to get underneath it but only manages to skew it off the toe end of the bat. It goes flat and straight to long off where Suryakumar Yadav takes an easy catch this time.

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! That should be the game and the World Cup to India! Final nail in the coffin for South Africa. Full and going across the left-hander, on off, Kagiso Rabada looks to get underneath it but only manages to skew it off the toe end of the bat. It goes flat and straight to long off where Suryakumar Yadav takes an easy catch this time.

WIDE! Goes searching for the wide yorker but it goes beyond the tramline on off, left alone by Kagiso Rabada for a wide.