IND v SA, T20 World Cup Final: India end 11-year-drought for ICC crown after Barbados thriller
IND v SA, T20 World Cup Final: India end 11-year-drought for ICC crown after Barbados thriller
The wait finally ended on Satuday, June 29. 11 years after MS Dhoni last lifted an ICC trophy for India, Rohit Sharma's men laid their hands on the T20 World Cup trophy. India snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as they successfully defended 176 to break the hearts of millions of South African fans. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh starred for India in the big final at the Kensington Oval as South Africa imploded after bringing down the equation to 30 off 30 deliveries.
Hardik Pandya turned India's hero in the end as he successfully defended 16 runs in the last over. Hardik was not able to control the tears after India scraped past the finish line. In a heartwarming moment, captain Rohit Sharma lifted his Mumbai Indians captain.
Earlier in the day, the weather gods showed mercy on cricket lovers as rain stayed away, contrary to the forecast through the week. Rohit Sharma won the toss and did not hesitate one bit to opt to bat. The rub of green went Rohit's way after the heartbreak of November 19 when Pat Cummins won the toss and controlled the ODI World Cup final from start to finish. India hoped to make hay when the sun shone in Barbados, but it did not go according to plan in the powerplay.
Virat Kohli gave a billion fans belief when he started with three boundaries against Marco Jansen in the first over of the contest. It was not the aggressive Kohli that failed to find the middle of the bat until the semi-final. Kohli was not dancing down the track to hit them into the stands in the first over, but timing them to perfection. The star batter had scored just 65 runs in the first seven matches, including a rare failure in the semifinal win over England.
However, the stars aligned with Kohli on the day of the big final, days after Rohit Sharma came up with a prophetic prediction. "He probably is saving it for the final," Rohit had said after the semifinal win. Kohli repaid the faith shown in him by his captain and head coach Rahul Dravid, hitting 76 off 59 balls. A man who has broken multiple records with chart-topping performances in the T20 World Cups in the past, waited until the final for his maiden fifty of the tournament this season.
Rohit Sharma, who had played a key role in India's decimation of England and Australia, picked the final to have an off-day as he was dismissed for 9 as early as the second over. After hitting two boundaries against left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, Rohit went for a sweep and failed to keep it down. Rohit lived by the sword and died by it as his decision to push the needle in the powerplay did not work on the big day.
India were jolted further as they lost Rishabh Pant in the same over. The aggressive wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed in an unfortunate manner as he top-edged a full-toss straight into the hands of the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
Suryakumar Yadav, who was in prime form throughout the tournament, fell to Kagiso Rabada for 3, adding to India's woes in the powerplay.
However, India made another excellent decision as Axar Patel coming in at No. 5 changed the discourse of the innings. The Delhi Capitals all-rounder was given the license to go after the bowling attack and he delivered in the big final. Axar took the South African spinners to the cleaners, hitting 47 off just 31 balls. It was Axar, who took charge of the partnership that defined the game with Virat Kohli.