South Africa celebrated after Axar Patel, the Indian all-rounder, was run out for 47, a crucial partnership that helped India recover from early losses in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.
India, opting to bat first after winning the toss in bright sunshine amid gusty winds at the sold-out 28,000-capacity venue, lost their captain Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav during the powerplay.
Both teams fielded unchanged line-ups from their victorious semi-final matches, with Rohit Sharma departing early for nine runs after hitting two fours in the first over.
Rishabh Pant followed, caught behind while attempting a shot to the leg side. Suryakumar Yadav was next to depart, caught by Heinrich Klaasen on Kagiso Rabada’s delivery after scoring three runs.
The final match concludes a nearly month-long tournament held in the USA and the Caribbean, featuring two unbeaten teams in the competition. India secured a convincing 68-run victory over defending champions England in Guyana, while South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad to reach their first senior men’s final since 1998.
For South Africa, known for their repeated heartbreaks in semi-finals since their World Cup debut in 1992, this final represents a significant opportunity to claim a long-awaited title.
Meanwhile, India, after disappointments in the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup, stands poised to potentially secure their second T20 World Cup title, following their inaugural triumph in 2007.
The tournament, marked by varying levels of quality, entertainment, and attendance, has successfully set the stage for a showdown between the top two teams in T20 cricket.
