They have done it! The Men in Blue have been finally crowned as the… (drumroll)… CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD! India has made it into the history books. Barbados, like Wankhede, has been eternalized in the hearts of every Indian. As Virat Kohli put his hand around Rohit Sharma with the Indian tricolour draped over their back like a superhero’s cape, tears rolled down the faces of 1.5 billion people. The ICC WT20 trophy was nestled in their hands like it was almost meant to be there, and at that moment it all made sense.
“God is great and I bow my head in gratitude”, said Virat at the post-match presentation. From the heartbreak on November 19, 2023, to the epitome of jubilation on June 29, 2024. God’s plan finally came to fruition.
The Heist in the Death overs
Around half an hour before it seemed impossible. The heist which was about to take place was something unheard of. With Heinrich Klaasen smashing Axar Patel for 24 runs in the 15th over, it seemed like South Africa was on course to win the T20 World Cup, crushing Indian hearts yet again. 30 needed off 30 deliveries. Enter, Jasprit Bumrah. The “Player of the Tournament”. A wizard with the ball in his hand, he let his wizardry unfold to its fullest extent, bowling a masterful over conceding just 4 runs. But the danger still loomed at large with Heinrich Klaasen at the crease. But, it wasn’t long before the Proteas power hitter was sent back to the shed.
Hardik Pandya bowled a slower off-cutter that grazed the edge of Klaasen’s bat before being gobbled up by Pant’s gloves. India was back in the game! Barely, by the finest of margins, but still in the game.
With 3 overs remaining, Bumrah was brought back into action. And he delivered, yet again, conceding just 2 runs in the 18th over while also cleaning up the handy Proteas all-rounder Marco Janses with a peach of a delivery. A good length ball, on the middle which defied logic as it zoomed past Jansen’s perfect defensive block and clipped the bails.
With two wickets in two overs, the match was still not in India’s favour. The man capable of winning it for South Africa, David Miller, was still in. A man who has been through it all. He was in that South African squad back in 2015, and he was determined to not go through that heartbreak again. But so were the Indians.
Arshdeep Singh was given the ball to bowl the penultimate over. Which is often considered as the most important over while defending a total. The young left-arm pacer made good use of his six balls giving away only 4 runs.
With the scoreboard reading 16 off 6, it finally felt as if India had a genuine chance of winning. The match was perfectly set up. With the trophy on the line, Hardik Pandya was given the responsibility of bringing it home for India. Across the 22 yards stood David Miller. The last hurdle between India and history.
Pandya bowled a wide full toss which Miller connected well with his willow. The ball travelled in the air for what seemed like an eternity to every living being watching the match. Straight down the ground toward long off. A position being manned by Suryakumar Yadav, who sprinted across the turf in hopes of catching it. With some hoping he would catch it, while others hoping it would clear the boundary rope, SKY pulled off an unbelievable catch that deserves to be hanged inside the Louvre. Flirting with the boundary rope India’s Mr. 360 signalled “out” as he raced towards Pandya after completing the catch.
Miller was gone and the game was tightly in India’s grasp. Kagiso Rabada managed to hit a lucky 4 off the next ball, reminding everyone that the match wasn’t over yet. After a bye and a leg bye, followed by a wide ball, the scoreboard read 9 required off 2. Pandya bowled full and across the left-hander and Rabada’s shot could only find Suryakumar’s safe hands, which secured the T20 WC for India!
