Former Indian captain MS Dhoni has reacted to India’s victory over South Africa in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, broke the ICC trophy drought after 11 years and won their second T20 World Cup title in Barbados.
Interestingly, MS Dhoni was the last captain to win India an ICC trophy when the Boys in Blue beat England in the final of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Before that, MS Dhoni had also led the Indian team to the 2011 ICC World Cup title and the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup title.
Rohit Sharma became the third Indian captain, after Kapil Dev and Dhoni, to lift an ICC trophy for Team India. Fortune favoured the Indian team from the start as Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first in the final against South Africa.
Also Read: ‘I really wanted this’ – ‘Proud’ Rohit Sharma praises Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya after T20 World Cup triumph
Virat Kohli and Rohit gave the Indian team a good start as Kohli took on Marco Jansen in the first over of the game. However, South Africa regained the lead in the second over of the game. Aiden Markram passed the ball to Keshav Maharaj and the latter picked up Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant.
Kagiso Rabada struck the Men in Blue with another big knock in the form of Suryakumar Yadav. Rahul Dravid surprised cricket fans and pundits by sending Axar Patel to bat alongside Virat Kohli as the number one spinner ahead of Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.
Axar did not disappoint as he protected Virat Kohli and counter-attacked South Africa, creating a good partnership with Kohli. As fate would have it, Axar’s strike ended a spectacular run by Quinton de Kock.
Virat Kohli continued his joy with Shivam Dube. After scoring his first half-century, Kohli attacked the opposition. Later, useful contributions from Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja took India’s total to 176-7 in their 20 overs.
Indian players defend below-par total against South Africa
Defending the total, the Indian bowlers were up to the task, with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh taking the first wickets. Tristan Stubbs and Quinton de Kock destroyed the Indian bowlers, followed by a brutal attack from Heinrich Klassen.
At the 15-over mark, South Africa was way ahead in the game but the Indian troika of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya broke South Africa’s back and saw India’s ICC Trophy draft come to an end.
Finally, Team India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title by 7 runs and Hardik successfully defended 16 runs in the final over. Virat Kohli was named Man of the Match while Jasprit Bumrah bagged the Man of the Tournament award.
MS Dhoni reacts to India’s win
The magnitude of India’s victory can be felt in celebrations across the country. However, a man who always avoids expressing emotions, former Indian captain MS Dhoni too could not control himself and reacted to India’s victory.
She took to Instagram and wrote: “WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS 2024. My heart rate went up, congratulations for being calm, having confidence in myself and doing what you did. From all the Indians at home and around the world, thank you so much for bringing the World Cup home. CONGRATULATIONS.arreeee thanks for the priceless birthday gift”
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