Virat Kohli’s cunning and Rohit Sharma’s inspirational leadership ended India’s agonising 11-year wait for a world championship as the star-studded team defeated South Africa by runs in a see-saw final to win its second T20 World Cup trophy here on Saturday.
Soon after the game, Kohli, who played a part in the 2011 ODI World Cup victory, declared his retirement from the format.
“The next generation needs to step up and take control. Even if we had lost, I would have disclosed it because it was an open secret, said Kohli.
After a difficult six months, Hardik Pandya, who was jeered for winning the IPL captaincy, broke down. The image that will stick in people’s minds is undoubtedly the kiss that Rohit Sharma gave him on the cheeks.
With his eyes sparkling, Captain Sharma was on his haunches, exhausted emotionally. His soulmate, Ritika, was also very emotional, feeling as though she were being choked.
It looked like Rohit Sharma and his team would have to settle for second place in another World Cup final when Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27 balls) was going toe-to-toe with the in-form Indian spinners, but they battled back into the match with a lot of assistance from South Africa.
After being severely criticised by his own fans for the previous six months, Hardik Pandya managed to hold on for 16 runs in the last over to secure India’s first ICC trophy since 2013 as well as their first-ever T20 World Cup victory in the post-IPL era. South Africa finished at 169 for eight, in response to India’s 176 for seven.
Star players Rohit and Kohli of the Indian team, who may not play in another T20 World Cup cycle, were clearly relieved and ecstatic. The outcome served as a fitting send-off for head coach Rahul Dravid as well.
India set the record for the highest total in a T20 World Cup final thanks to the combined efforts of Axar Patel (47 off 31) and Virat Kohli (76 off 59).
India’s pacers took two early wickets in the high-pressure run chase, but the Proteas were able to recover with a 58-run partnership between opener Quinton de Kock (39 off 31) and Tristian Stubbs (52 off 27).
But India was nearly taken aback by Klaasen’s incredible knock. In the 15th over, Rohit Sharma went for Axar Patel instead of his leading pacer Jasprit Bumrah because he needed a wicket. Klaasen hit several fours and several sixes in this over, which was enough to put the game away for the opposition.
All of a sudden, South Africa was playing a losing game as the asking rate dropped to run a ball. South Africa, who aren’t known for remaining composed under duress, made things more difficult for themselves by needing 20 runs from the final 12 balls with David Miller and Keshav Maharaj batting in the middle.
After being brought back for the final two overs, Bumrah, who had earlier bowled a beauty to remove Reeza Hendricks from the game, made an impact by taking a wicket and giving up just six runs off his final 12 balls.
The equation collapsed to 16 off the final six balls, and India was on the verge of a thrilling victory when Suryakumar Yadav made an incredible relay catch off Hardik at the long-off boundary in the first ball.
Rohit Sharma (9) had no hesitation in batting first at Kensington Oval where the pitch has not been the easiest to bat on through the competition.
The Indian captain, coming from two back to back match winning efforts, departed early after collecting couple of consecutive fours off Keshav Maharaj in the second over of the game.
Maharaj responded well by having Rohit caught at square leg as the batter went for a sweep. Rohit and incoming batter Rishabh Pant both fell to the sweep shot.
The tension in the Indian camp increased when Suryakumar, who has also been in good touch like Rohit, was caught at fine-leg after not getting enough from his pick up shot off Rabada, leaving India with three down inside the powerplay.
At 45 for three in six overs, it was the slowest powerplay for India in the Caribbean leg.
After seeing wickets fall at the other end, Kohli, who had hit three beautiful boundaries off Marco Jansen in the final over’s opening over, changed tactics in the middle overs, allowing Axar to hit an unusual boundary.
The intensity of Kohli’s blow was so great that in the 18th over following the powerplay, he hit a straight six off Rabada.
Axar, however, may have played the best innings of his T20 career as he skillfully navigated the South African spinners, hitting sixes off of Aiden Markram, Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi. But Rabada’s straight six through the line was the high point of his special knock.
Before the death overs began, Shivam Dube (27 off 16) entered the middle and struck a few crucial blows to support the total.
In the final five overs, Kohli let go of the bat to smash a couple of sixes, helping India score 58 runs at the expense of three wickets.
