ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Final, as it happened: India win second title by seven runs

That's it from our coverage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup!

Well well well, what a final that was! It swung like a rather excitable pendulum and until over 15 in South Africa’s innings, it was anybody's game. Then David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen nearly did the impossible for South Africa. But when it mattered, somebody who didn't feature in that 2023 ODI World Cup final and someone who has faced a fair share of flak over the past year came good – Hardik Pandya. The wicket of Klaasen changes things completely and set things on course for a brilliant win. It was also some form of vindication for Pandya to see out the final over after the past year he has had.

Jasprit Bumrah has been sensational throughout the tournament and has continued to show his incredible form as India’s leading bowler. Despite Kohli’s form not being the best, it was his innings that allowed the likes of Axar Patel and Shivam Dube to unleash their power hitting skills. Arshdeep Singh and Patel along with Suryakumar Yadav were quite good as well and it was heartening to see Rishabh Pant in an Indian jersey after his accident.

Finally a trophy for Rohit and Co after the past heartbreaks in the final. Commiserations also go out to South Africa who, after reaching their first senior men’s final, fell at the last hurdle when they had one hand on the trophy.

The Indian squad are all in smiles as they come up on stage to receive their winners medals from the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jay Shah.

Rohit Sharma, with a look of relief and vindication in his eyes, walks up to have a few words on the final and the campaign.

“It’s been hard to sum up. We’ve been through a lot in the last three-four years. There’s been a lot behind the scenes, not just what we did today. There have been a lot of high-pressure games and we’ve been on the wrong side of it. The guys understand when the pressure is on and what needs to be done and today was a perfect example, stuck together with our backs to the wall. We’ve wanted this really bad and a lot of minds had to come together.”

“Very proud of this bunch of boys and the management, giving us the liberty to play and that trust, it starts from the management, coach, captain and the players.”

“No one was in doubt about the form of Virat [Kohli] because he’s been on top of his game for the last 15 years. Come the occasion, there are big players that stand up. It was crucial of him to hold up that end, for the others to play around him. It was a team effort because it wasn’t a wicket on which you could bat freely. Virat did that perfectly, all those years of experience coming together and Axar’s [Patel] batting was also crucial.”

“How to put Jasprit [Bumrah]’s spell into words. I understand you guys trying to put it into words, but I don’t understand how he does it. It’s a masterclass. He backs his skills which is more than enough and is a confident lad. Hardik [Pandya] was brilliant to bowl that last over. And the fans, from New York to Barbados and back home, they’ve been waiting a long time for this, like we all have and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved today.”

The South Africans are called upon to receive their runners-up medals from their board president. Nearly all of them are in tears and why wouldn’t they be, considering how close they were to their country’s first-ever ICC title.

Aiden Markram is sombre as he’s asked to give a few words.

“Quite gutted for the time being and it will take some time to reflect on what was a really good campaign. It hurts quite a bit but I’m incredibly proud. We bowled very well and there wasn’t a lot to work with from the pitch. We thought it was a chaseable total and we batted well. It nearly came down to the line and gutted not to get over. It’s not over till the last ball is over and we never got comfortable. We got into a great position though to prove that we are worthy finalists. South Africans are competitive, respectful and we will definitely go down with a fight. It’s still a proud moment for us.”

Jasprit Bumrah is named the Player of the tournament for his incredible bowling that saw him pick up 15 wickets across eight matches with an astonishing economy rate of 4.17.

“I just tried to keep calm [when being called back on for the 16th over]. I am really over the moon with my son being here and my family here. We’ve been working really hard towards this and there’s no better feeling than this. We play sport for the big stage. On the big day, you have to give more and throughout the tournament, I felt very clear and calm. Emotions can take over but now the job has been done.”

Virat Kohli is named the Player of the Match for his brilliant knock of 76 off 59 balls. The rain is coming down in Barbados as he walks to receive his trophy.

And during his conversation with the broadcaster, the Indian batter drops a bomb of sorts: he confirms that he will retire from T20Is.

“I talked to Rohit and said that one day, it feels like you can’t get a run and then things happen. God is great and I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered. It’s my last T20 for India. This was an open secret and it’s time for the next generation to take over.”

“Rohit has played nine T20 World Cups and this is my sixth. He deserves it. I haven’t been confident in the last few games, but very grateful and humble right now. It’s difficult to hold things back, the emotions will come later.”

Mohammed Siraj: “My only belief was on Jassy (Bumrah) bhai (To turn this game around). He's the only game-charger.”

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in tears, as are most of the other players. It’s an incredible night for them all, especially after the heartbreak over seven months ago against Australia in Ahmedabad.

When Miller and Klaasen took apart Axar Patel in the 15th over, it seemed like South Africa had it in the bag. Hardik Pandya and the wicket of Klaasen breathed new energy into the Indian team. Then Jasprit Bumrah’s final over saw Marco Jansen depart and Miller kept away from the strike. That ultimately did the latter in as he tried to go big guns and perished at the hands of a stunning Suryakumar Yadav catch.

SA 169/8 in 20 overs: AND INDIA WIN THE 2024 ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP! A half-hearted shot from Anrich Nortje gets him a single, but it doesn’t matter. Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid finally have that coveted ICC title after their third final in the past year.

SA 168/8 in 19.5 overs: WICKET! AND THAT’S NEARLY DONE IT! Rabada tries to go straight down and SKY takes another catch. Kagiso Rabada 4 (3b) c Suryakumar Yadav b Pandya

SA 165/7 in 19.1 overs: WICKET! POSSIBLY THE MOMENT OF THE MATCH OR EVEN THE TOURNAMENT! That’s some brilliant control from Suryakumar Yadav to snatch that ball out of the air and Miller has to depart! David Miller 21 (17b) c Suryakumar Yadav b Pandya

SA 161/6 in 19 overs: A brilliant final over from Arshdeep there as he nearly gets a caught and bowled chance at the end off Maharaj. 16 to win for South Africa.

SA 156/6 in 17.4 overs: WICKET! And it may not be the wicket they truly want, but it’s a wicket nonetheless. Marco Jansen has no answer for a class Bumrah delivery and his stumps are knocked over. Marco Jansen 2 (4b) b Bumrah

SA 155/5 in 17 overs: Pandya finishes off his over as Miller negotiates the chase as the last recognised batter for South Africa.

SA 151/5 in 16.1 overs: WICKET! Ouch! That has to hurt for Klaasen! Right after he reaches his first half-century of the tournament, he gets a slower and rather wide delivery from Pandya. A feather edge off his bat and Pant takes the catch. India finally have the breakthrough Heinrich Klaasen 52 (27b) c Pant b Hardik Pandya

SA 151/4 in 16 overs: Miller and Klaasen negotiate Bumrah’s third over with relative ease, but now it’s a much easier task for South Africa compared to four overs before.

SA 123/4 in 14 overs: David Miller and Klaasen finish off Kuldeep’s final over with 14 runs off it. This partnership is the final stand, after which India will get into the bowlers.

SA 106/4 in 12.3 overs: WICKET! Oh no, the fielding change has done him in! Quinton de Kock tries for the pull shot once again that got him a boundary two balls prior. But this time, he finds Kuldeep Yadav in the deep and has to go. Quinton de Kock 39 (31b) c Kuldeep b Singh

SA 101/3 in 12 overs: The 100 comes up for South Africa and they are remaining within touching distance of the required rate. Klaasen manages to hit a six off a googly from Kuldeep Yadav and the partnership is starting to pick up pace.

At the same point earlier, India were 75/3. South Africa are ahead, but as seen in the Indian innings, as the ball became older, the batting has become tougher. But as long as de Kock holds on and Klaasen gets his eye in, things could be different.

SA 81/3 in 10 overs: Hardik Pandya is the fifth bowler used by Rohit Sharma as de Kock continues to hold strong in what has proven to be a slightly tricky chase.

SA 70/3 in 8.5 overs: WICKET! CLEANS HIM UP! A quicker delivery from Axar Patel and Stubbs has gone so far off his stumps that he can just look at the ball as it crashes into them. Tristan Stubbs 31 (21b) b Axar Patel

SA 62/2 in 8 overs: The 50-run partnership between de Kock and Stubbs comes up as the former hits a massive six off Kuldeep Yadav. Rohit Sharma now has some questions to answer – where will the breakthrough come from?

SA 42/2 in 6 overs: The Powerplay comes to an end and South Africa fared better in the first six overs compared to India. South Africa and Tristan Stubbs in particular, get a first look at Kuldeep Yadav. Stubbs had revealed that when the two were together at Delhi Capitals in the IPL, the Indian spinner refused to bowl to the South Africa batter in the nets.

SA 22/2 in 4 overs: A chance for Bumrah as de Kock edges a length ball, but it sneaks through the gap of the two slips placed there and runs away for a boundary.

SA 12/2 in 2.3 overs: WICKET! Aiden Markram, what have you done? The South Africa captain tries to drive, a repeat of the first ball he faced, but this time gets a thick edge to Rishabh Pant and his team are in trouble! Aiden Markram 4 (5b) c Rishabh Pant b Arshdeep Singh

SA 7/1 in 1.3 overs: WICKET! Bumrah sets up de Kock in the previous delivery and then sends an outswinger into Hendricks whose stumps are knocked over. Reeza Hendricks 4 (5b) b Jasprit Bumrah

Reeza Hendricks walks out with Quinton de Kock, for whom this could be the last time he dons the South Africa jersey. Arshdeep Singh opens the bowling for India.

It wasn’t the best of innings from Kohli and one wonders if his acceleration in the 17th over may have come an over too late. But the partnerships with Axar Patel and Shivam Dube were crucial in the recovery after the loss of three quick wickets at the top.

IND 176/7 in 20 overs: WICKET! A wild hoick from Ravindra Jadeja there on the last ball of the innings and Keshav Maharaj takes the catch with ease. Ravindra Jadeja 2 (2b) c Keshav Maharaj b Anrich Nortje

IND 174/6 in 19.4 overs: WICKET! Dube goes his own way merrily and holes out to David Miller after hitting a boundary. A good solid cameo from the tall man after a rather quiet tournament. Shivam Dube 27 (16b) c David Miller b Anrich Nortje

IND 167/5 in 19 overs: WICKET! Kohli hits a solid high six and tries to repeat the shot the next ball, but the ball from Jansen was a slower one and this time, Kohli finds Rabada in the deep. But the Indian batter has done his job and when better to come good than in the final. Virat Kohli 76 (59b) c Rabada b Marco Jansen

IND 150/4 in 18 overs: Kohli hits his first boundary since the fourth over with a superb six down the ground off Rabada. Then, smacks Rabada’s slower ball all the way to the boundary for a four. India getting a crack on in the death overs.

IND 134/4 in 17 overs: Kohli reaches his first half-century of the tournament, not something one would have said before the tournament. No celebration from the Indian batter, who knows he has a tough job on hand. Dube, meanwhile, continuing to strike cleanly with another boundary.

IND 134/4 in 17 overs: Kohli reaches his first half-century of the tournament, not something one would have said before the tournament. No celebration from the Indian batter, who knows he has a tough job on hand. Dube, meanwhile, continuing to strike cleanly with another boundary.

IND 126/4 in 16 overs: Shivam Dube in ahead of Hardik Pandya and starts with a six off Jansen, straight down the ground. Kohli meanwhile is still striking at over a run a ball, but hasn’t scored a boundary since the Powerplay.

IND 106/4 in 13.3 overs: WICKET! Quinton de Kock with a brilliant throw at the bowler’s end to run out Axar Patel. The latter was ready for the single, but Kohli sends him back and the Indian all-rounder is a tad slow on his return and is short of his crease as de Kock hits the stumps with precision. Axar Patel 41 (37b) run out de Kock

IND 93/3 in 12 overs: The 50-run partnership comes up between Kohli and Patel and in the next ball, Patel gets down on one knee and hits his third six straight and flat over Rabada’s head, helped by the strong winds too.

Halfway through the India innings, it’s been a final that has kept people on the edge of their seats – a rough and tough boxing match, if you like things like that. South Africa punched first hard and then India punched back.

IND 75/3 in 10 overs: Another six from Patel and he seems to be the one taking the chances in this partnership. Meanwhile, Tabraiz Shamsi is introduced into the attack as Kohli almost falls victim to the brilliant fielding by South Africa.

The players take a break for drinks.

IND 59/3 in 8 overs: A nice solid six by Patel off Markram that JUST manages to get over the fielder at the boundary and Indian hearts breathe a sigh of relief.

IND 45/3 in 6 overs: Kohli is still on the other end with Axar Patel for company as the Powerplay comes to an end with South Africa firmly on top after the loss of those three wickets.

IND 34/3 in 4.3 overs: WICKET! A short ball from Rabada and Suryakumar Yadav relishes these kinds of deliveries. Except he gets it a little too high and finds Klaasen in the deep who pumps his arms in furious celebration. Rabada celebrates equally vociferiously and India are three down inside the Powerplay! Suryakumar Yadav 3 (4b) c Klaasen b Kagiso Rabada

IND 32/2 in 4 overs: Things have calmed down slightly as Aiden Markram brings on Kagiso Rabada after that first over from Jansen. Meanwhile, Kohli seems to be looking relatively good against Maharaj and gets a boundary off him.

IND 23/2 in 2 overs: WICKET! And now Rishabh Pant gets the Maharaj treatment. It’s another sweep and this time, Quinton de Kock takes the catch. The umpire reviews it to see if the ball hit the deck first before being caught, but it’s a fair dismissal. India in a spot of bother… Rishabh Pant 0 (2b) c Quinton de Kock b Maharaj

IND 23/1 in 1.4 overs: WICKET! The in-form Rohit tries to go against the grain and perishes to the spin of Keshav Maharaj. South Africa are pumped! The first over saw Kohli and Rohit go all guns blazing, but Rohit tries to sweep and gets caught by Heinrich Klaasen. Rohit Sharma 9 (5b) c Heinrich Klaasen b Keshav Maharaj

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli walk out as the openers for India with the very tall Marco Jansen being handed the ball for South Africa.

The two teams have lined up with their flags in behind them as they get ready for the national anthems.

Road to the final – India

Group stage

Beat Ireland by eight wickets

Beat Pakistan by six runs

Beat USA by seven wickets

No result vs Canada

Super Eights

Beat Afghanistan by 47 runs

Beat Bangladesh by 50 runs

Beat Australia by 24 runs

Semi-final

Beat England by 68 runs

Road to the final – South Africa

Group stage

Beat Sri Lanka by six wickets

Beat Netherlands by four wickets

Beat Bangladesh by four runs

Beat Nepal by one run

Super Eights

Beat USA by 18 runs

Beat England by seven runs

Beat West Indies by three wickets

Semi-final

Beat Afghanistan by nine wickets

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (C), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Toss: India win the toss and will bat first. Both teams go into the final with unchanged XIs.

Pitch report: A fair bit of wind at the ground and a 30% chance of rain with the weather being a sunny 30 degree celsius. According to the official broadcasters, there will be even bounce and even pace which will certainly support the fast bowlers. The pitch is quite dry with hardly a blade of grass on it, but the ball could come on to the bat nicely.

Hello and welcome to Scroll’s coverage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup!

It’s an incredible clash that has been lined up for all to witness at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown in Barbados – India vs South Africa.

For the 2007 winners, it is yet another final in an ICC tournament, having previously featured in the 2023 Test Championship in England and in the ODI World Cup on home soil.

For South Africa, it is their first-ever final in a men’s tournament.

While South Africa have won all eight of their matches, India have won seven of their eight matches (one match was washed out)

Many of these players are quite familiar with each other, what with having spent two months prior to this tournament in the Indian Premier League. The likes of big-hitting Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock up against Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, the might of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli up against Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi – there are plenty of player battles that could shape the game.

Rain isn’t likely to play spoilsport unlike India’s semi-final against England and we will be here to provide all the updates from what promises to be a cracking final.

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs

Screenshots courtsey Disney+Hotstar