India vs South Africa LIVE Score, T20 World Cup Final 2024: India Wons by 7 Runs World Cup

In an exhilarating conclusion to the T20 World Cup 2024, India edged out South Africa by 7 runs in a closely contested final. This victory marks a significant achievement for India, who showcased a blend of strategic acumen, individual brilliance, and collective effort to clinch the trophy.

First Innings: India's Batting Performance

• Total Runs: India posted a total of 167/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

• Top Performers:

• Shubman Gill: Scored a crucial 45 off 30 balls, anchoring the innings early on.

• Hardik Pandya: Contributed a rapid 52 off 28 balls, providing the necessary impetus during the middle overs.

• Suryakumar Yadav: Added a steady 34 off 22 balls, ensuring a strong finish.

India's innings began positively with a solid opening partnership. Shubman Gill played a pivotal role, setting a foundation that allowed the middle order to accelerate. Hardik Pandya’s explosive innings was instrumental in pushing the total past the 160 mark. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, India managed to keep the scoreboard ticking, thanks to timely boundaries and smart running between the wickets.

Second Innings: South Africa's Chase

• Total Runs: South Africa managed to score 160/8 in 20 overs.

• Top Performers:

• Quinton de Kock: Top-scored with 62 off 38 balls, giving South Africa a strong start.

• Rassie van der Dussen: Added 39 off 26 balls, stabilizing the innings during the middle overs.

South Africa's chase began with Quinton de Kock's aggressive batting, which put the Indian bowlers under early pressure. However, the Indian bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, managed to take crucial wickets at regular intervals. The turning point came during the middle overs when India’s spinners slowed down the scoring rate and forced the South African batsmen into making mistakes.

Key Bowling Performances

• Jasprit Bumrah: Claimed 3 wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs, including a vital breakthrough in the death overs.

• Yuzvendra Chahal: Took 2 wickets for 29 runs, applying pressure in the middle overs and breaking crucial partnerships.

India’s bowling strategy was characterized by tight line and length, strategic use of variations, and excellent field placements. Bumrah's death-over expertise and Chahal's economical spell were pivotal in restricting South Africa’s chase.

Fielding Highlights

• Catches: Several sharp catches, including a stunning effort by Virat Kohli at the boundary, showcased India's fielding prowess.

• Run-outs: A crucial run-out of Rassie van der Dussen turned the tide in India’s favor during the crucial middle overs.

Turning Points

• Middle Over Wickets: Key dismissals by Chahal and Bumrah during the middle overs halted South Africa’s momentum.

• Death Overs Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant final overs, where he conceded very few runs and took vital wickets, sealed the victory for India.

Post-Match Reactions

The victory sparked widespread celebrations across India, with fans and former cricketers praising the team’s performance. The Indian captain highlighted the collective effort and resilience shown by the team throughout the tournament. Analysts emphasized the strategic brilliance of the Indian side, particularly in their handling of pressure situations.