India survive Henrich Klaasen scare to choke South Africa and lift T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in Barbados

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India survived a massive Henrich Klaasen scare to beat South Africa by seven runs and win the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday June 29. This is India's first ICC title win since 2013, and a T20 World Cup win after 17 years.

South Africa needed 30 balls off just 30 balls after the end of 15 overs, but India showed nerves of steel to script a miraculous comeback courtesy some exceptional death bowling performances from Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh.

After Axar Patel leaked 24 runs against Klaasen in the 15 over, Rohit Sharma straightaway introduced Jasprit Bumrah into the attack. The Indian pace spearhead gave away just four runs in the 16th over.

Hardik Pandya came to bowl the 17th over and struck on the first ball with the big wicket of Klaasen. The all-rounder conceded just four runs before Bumrah returned to bowl his magical final over. Not only he picked the wicket of Marco Jansen but gave away just two runs, bringing the equation down to 20 off 12.

Arshdeep followed pursuit to choke South Africa further. The pair of David Miller and Keshav Maharaj could collect just four from his over. Hardik Pandya later fulfilled the responsibility of defending 16 in the final over. The wicket of Miller on the first ball after a stunning juggling catch from Suryakumar Yadav at long-off boundary was the final nail in South Africa's coffin.

At one stage it looked as if South Africa would seal their maiden T20 World Cup comfortably by chasing a record total. Quinton de Kock (39 off 31) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21) stitched a crucial 55-run partnership off 38 balls after South Africa were reduced to 12/2. Once de Kock departed, Heinrich Klaasen hit a 23-ball fifty with some brutal hitting against India spinners.

Earlier, despite getting reduced to 34/3 in 4.3 overs, India made a very good recovery and managed to post 176/7 after opting to bat first. India collected 15 runs from the first after three boundaries from Virat Kohli off Marco Jansen, however soon found themselves in trouble after losing the wickets of captain Rohit Sharma (9) and Rishabh Pant (0) in the second over from Keshav Maharaj.

Axar Patel was sent to bat at number three and the decision paid off as the southpaw scored 47 runs off 31 balls to bring India's inning back on track. Axar Patel stitched a 72-run partnership off 54 balls with Virat Kohli, who held one end.

Virat Kohli brought up his first fifty of the T20 World Cup 2024 off 48 balls. He soon shifted gears after reaching the landmark and played some exquisite shots to finish at 76 off 59. He smashed two sixes after completing his fifty, and got out while attempting to clear the boundary rope once more in the 19th over.

Shivam Dube also played a handy knock. The hard-hitting batter scored 27 runs off 16 balls. Hardik Pandya (5* off 2), and Ravindra Jadeja (2* off 2) remained unbeaten as India finished at 176/7 - the highest-ever total in the final of T20 World Cup 2024.