India scored 176/7 in 20 overs, where as South Africa scored 169/8 in 20 overs.
So, finally India beat South Africa by 7 runs.
Despite their efforts to avoid repeating past mistakes, South Africa once again faced heartbreak, this time in their maiden final appearance on the biggest stage.
India made a stunning comeback in the second innings, led by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, to secure their second T20 World Cup title.
The match was a rollercoaster.
India, opting to bat first, lost early wickets but Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a 59-ball 76, supported by Axar Patel (47) and Shivam Dube (27), leading India to 176/6.
South Africa’s chase saw early setbacks, but Tristan Stubbs and Quinton de Kock steadied the innings.
Heinrich Klaasen’s 27-ball 52 brought South Africa close, needing 30 off 30.
However, Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Pandya’s disciplined death bowling secured a seven-run victory for India.
The key difference was India’s pacers in the death overs.
Klaasen’s aggressive batting helped South Africa in the middle overs, but Bumrah’s tight last two overs, along with Arshdeep and Pandya’s economical bowling, turned the game around.
Pandya’s three crucial wickets in the death overs, including Klaasen, sealed South Africa’s fate.
The Chase:
South Africa
Power play: India’s pacers deliver early strikes
Score: 42/2 (RR: 7.0, 4s/6s: 6/0)
Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah found early movement.
Bumrah dismissed Reeza Hendricks, and Arshdeep removed Aiden Markram, reducing South Africa to 34/3.
Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs attacked Axar Patel, ending the powerplay close to India’s score.
Middle overs: Klaasen’s aggressive approach
Score: 105/2 (RR: 11.66, 4s/6s: 6/8)
Stubbs and de Kock attacked Axar and Kuldeep Yadav, with Klaasen hitting sixes and fours, pushing South Africa past 100.
Arshdeep’s second wicket and Kuldeep’s expensive spell left South Africa needing 53 off 36.
Klaasen’s 23-ball fifty brought it down to 30 off 30.
Death overs: India’s bowlers stage a comeback
Score: 22/4 (RR: 5.5, 4s/6s: 1/0)
Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Pandya bowled tightly, with Bumrah dismissing Marco Jansen and Pandya taking three crucial wickets, including Klaasen.
South Africa needed 16 off the last over, but Pandya’s disciplined bowling secured a win for India.
Earlier:
India
Power play: Early inroads by South Africa
Score: 45/3 (RR: 7.5, 4s/6s: 7/0)
Kohli started strong, but Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant fell to Keshav Maharaj.
Surya Kumar Yadav also fell cheaply, leaving India at 34/3.
Axar Patel joined Kohli, providing stability.
Middle overs: Axar and Kohli steady India
Score: 73/1 (RR: 8.11, 4s/6s: 0/5)
Axar and Kohli built a 72-run partnership, targeting spinners.
Axar’s sixes and Kohli’s steady approach pushed India past 100.
Axar’s run-out ended the partnership, but Dube’s sixes kept the momentum.
Death overs: Kohli and Dube boost India’s total
Score: 58/3 (RR: 11.6, 4s/6s: 5/2)
Kohli’s fifty and late boundaries from Dube and Pandya helped India to 176/6, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final.
Despite Nortje’s good final over, India’s strong finish set a challenging target.
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