IND vs SA, T20 World Cup Final: Rohit Sharma kisses Hardik Pandya as Emotion runs wild after India's Triumph - Watch

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India captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya shared a special moment after India's redemption in the T20 World Cup final.

India celebrated a fantastic victory in the T20 World Cup Final against South Africa on Saturday. This comes as redemption for India after their heartbreak in the 50-over World Cup last year.

India batted first, scoring 176 runs in their allotted overs. Virat Kohli was the top scorer with 76 runs, while Axar Patel (47) and Shivam Dube (27) also made significant contributions.

In response, South Africa started poorly as Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh dismissed Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram early on. Quinton de Kock anchored the innings with 39 runs, but it was Heinrich Klaasen who nearly took South Africa to victory with a brilliant 52 off just 27 balls.

However, Klaasen's dismissal turned the tide in India's favour. The pressure mounted on South Africa as Bumrah struck again, and they ultimately fell short of the target by 7 runs. This victory marks a significant moment for the Indian team, ending an 11-year wait for an ICC title.

The men in blue had suffered two ICC final defeats in the past twelve months, but their triumph at Kensington Oval has transformed those disappointments into pure elation.

After the victory, the emotions were running high in the India camp. Rohit Sharma was seen in tears while Hardik Pandya was crying profusely after bowling the final over. With 16 runs required in the last over, Pandya bowled a terrific over and kept the Proteas 7-run short of the target.

Hardik Pandya's appointment as Mumbai Indians captain in IPL 2024 irked many and the Indian all-rounder was subject to intense abuses from a section of the people. Also, there were speculations about his potential relation with India captain Rohit Sharma, whom he replaced at the MI helm.

But the two gelled superbly in the T20 World Cup and the speculated distance got shatterd as Rohit Sharma embraced and kissed Hardik on his cheek after the World Cup victory. The India captain also gave his deputy a warm hug after the last over, indicating the warmth between the duo contrary to popular beliefs.

T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma kisses Hardik Pandya