India have clinched the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title after beating South Africa by seven runs in a sensational final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
India won the toss and decided to bat first. Star opener Virat Kohli hit a half century to help his side set a 176 runs target for opposition.
Kohli slammed 76 runs off 59 balls, with Axar Patel striking 47 off 31 to post a defensible total.
For South Africa, reaching the final for the first time, Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje chipped in with two wickets each, while Kagiso Rabada grabbed one scalp.
Chasing the target, the Springboks seemed poised to romp home when Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) whacked Patel for 24 in the 15th over, trimming the requirement to 30 from 30 balls.
However, Jasprit Bumrah conceded only six runs combined in the 16th and 18th overs.
Sixteen runs were required in the final over, when Hardik Pandya grabbed the wicket of David Miller on the first ball.
The Proteas managed only eight runs as they ended on 169-8 and India became the first team in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup to go through a whole tournament unbeaten.
India’s prolific openers Kohli and Sharma announced their retirement from T20 cricket.
“This was my last T20 World Cup, and this is what we wanted to achieve,” Kohli said. “I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered. It’s time for the next generation to take over, some amazing players will take the team forward and keep the flag waving high.”
India had landed the T20 World Cup title for the first time in 2007 when they outplayed arch rival Pakistan in Johannesburg.
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