India defeated South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final by seven runs in a game full of twists and turns. The Men in Blue, led by Rohit Sharma and under Rahul Dravid’s coaching, ended an eleven-year losing streak in ICC tournaments. Virat Kohli’s 59–ball 76, coupled with Axar Patel’s 31-ball 47, set up India’s 176 runs total in the first innings. Heinrich Klaasen’s 27-ball 52 fell narrowly short of earning South Africa their first ICC title as Indian pacers gleamed with the ball in hand.
Match Summary
- Toss: Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first.
- India Innings: 176/7 in 20 overs
- Virat Kohli: 76 (59)
- Axar Patel: 47 (31)
- Key Bowler: Keshav Maharaj (2/23)
- South Africa Innings: 169/8 in 20 overs
- Heinrich Klaasen: 52 (27)
- Quinton de Kock: 39 (31)
- Key Bowler: Hardik Pandya (3/20)
Key Moments
Keshav Maharaj’s opening blow:
India got off to a good start in the first over after extracting 15 runs. Rohit Sharma backed it up by a couple of fours off Keshav Maharaj in the next over before falling prey to a great catch by Heinrich Klaasen at square leg in the same over. Maharaj got a bit of drift to play with and outsmarted Rishab Pant in the same over itself, earning two scalps to put India on the back foot.
Virat and Axar’s rebuild:
With Suryakumar Yadav following Rohit and Pant back to the dugout inside the powerplay, Virat Kohli stood tall when it mattered the most. Axar Patel was promoted to No. 5, very much like in the game against Pakistan. The all-rounder did not fail to accompany Kohli and ease off pressure by assaulting the opposition bowlers at regular intervals. They stitched a 72-run stand that helped India set up a 176-run total in the first innings. 
India’s new ball spell:
Similar to their counterparts, South Africa incurred early jolts, losing Reeza Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram early inside the powerplay. Jasprit Bumrah produced a seed while Arshdeep Singh induced the outside edge to leave the Proteas languishing at 12/2.
Proteas dominating middle overs phase:
The South African side revived from early jolts, courtesy of Tristan Stubbs, Quinton de Kock, and Heinrich Klaasen. The initial two batters stabilised them for the latter to almost snatch the ball away from India’s court. While Stubbs and de Kock failed to convert their thirties, Klaasen’s 27-ball 52 blitzkrieg was highlighted by a 24-run over off Axar Patel that brought the equation down to run-a-ball at the cusp of the 15th over.
Final nerves:
A four-run incredible over from Jasprit Bumrah paved the way for Hardik Pandya to outwit Klaasen in the 17th over. The all-rounder kept things tight with Bumrah continuing in the 18th over to clean up Marco Jansen for the sixth wicket. Arshdeep Singh bowled brilliantly against David Miller, leaving 16 runs for Hardik to defend. The Baroda-based star snapped a couple of wickets and sealed the deal for India, leaving South Africa dejected in the final.
Implications and Future Prospects
South Africa were valiant in the contest but choked like they tend to do in the knockouts. They needed run-a-ball 30 at one point in time but failed to nail the task with six wickets in hand. With another T20 bonanza in a couple of years time, they must be looking to prepare a few young guns and get their best team possible for a turnaround.
The Indian triumph in the T20 World Cup after seventeen years saw the last games for legends, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in this particular format. It is safe to say that the team might see a transition in some of the roles. Faces like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, among others will be tried and tested keeping in mind the T20 World Cup 2026.
Conclusion
Both teams showcased utmost character in the final of the T20 World Cup. In a contest that swung like a see-saw, South Africans failed to get the better of their nerves, faltering at the fag end of the contest. Indian bowlers picked themselves up at the right time and pegged back with crucial wickets to rightfully earn their glory.
