India finally ended their 11 years of ICC trophy drought by defecting South Africa by 7 runs in a thrilling jaw-biting match. Indian bowlers including Arshdeep, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah maintained their calm during the end and contributed greatly to India’s historic win against the mighty South Africa.
India scored a total of 176 the highest total by any team in the history of the T20 final. When the wickets were falling from the other end, Kohli managed to score 76 runs and took the team to a defendable total.
South Africa struggled to get a good start as they lost 2 early wickets putting the South Africans into a pressure situation. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller were looking in good touch and tried to put pressure back on Indian bowlers and took the game close to the win.
However, India strikes back as Hardik Pandy takes down both David Miller and Heinrich Klassen taking back India into the game. After the wicket of David Miller, South African batting collapsed and India won the match ending their 11 years of ICC trophy drought.
The Indian Captain Praises The King Kohli
“Nobody was in doubt with Virat’s form. We know the quality he has, come the occasion the big players will stand up. Virat was holding that end up for us, we wanted someone to bat as long as possible. This wasn’t a wicket where a new guy could come and play straight.
That’s where the experience of Virat comes through. I’ve been someone who has seen him play for so many years, but even I don’t know how he does it. It is a masterclass. He backs his skills and he is a very confident lad,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation.
Lauding vice captain Hardik, Rohit also said that the allrounder was ‘brilliant as well, bowling that last over.’ he said post match
Indian Express
Post-match, Virat Kohli announces his retirement from the T20 format.
“This was my last T20 World Cup, this is exactly what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel like you can’t get a run and this happens, God is great. Just the occasion, now or never kind of situation. This was my last T20 game playing for India. We wanted to lift that cup. Wanted to Yes I have, this was an open secret. Not something that I wasn’t going to announce even if we had lost. Time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward and do wonders as we have seen them do in the IPL. I have no doubts that they will keep the flag waving high and take this team further from here now. It’s been a long wait for us just waiting to win an ICC tournament. It’s not just me alone. You look at someone like Rohit, he’s played 9 T20 World Cups and this is my sixth.
He deserves it as much as anyone else in the squad. Just happy we were able to get the job done and really it’s hard to explain the emotions I felt after the game. I knew what kind of mindset I was in. I wasn’t very confident in the last few games.
I wasn’t feeling really good out there. But when God has to bless you with something he shows in ways that you can’t imagine and that’s why I said I’m grateful and humbled right now and I bow my head.
It’s been difficult and hence the emotions of the game went as well and the way we came back and the kind of character the guys showed it’s really difficult to hold things back. I think it’s going to sink in a little later, the emotions are going to come to the surface a little later more but it’s just an amazing day and I couldn’t be more thankful,” he said after the match
Cricbuzz
