Team India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, claimed the T20 World Cup 2024 final trophy, beating South Africa in a nail-biting final in Barbados. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, delivering dominant performances from start to finish.
The final match saw India outplay South Africa, who fought valiantly but fell short. South Africa needed 16 runs in the final over with David Miller at the crease. Hardik Pandya took the ball for India, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Miller, South Africa’s star batter, hit the first ball from Pandya toward the boundary, appearing to aim for a six. However, Suryakumar Yadav made a sensational juggling catch at the boundary, dismissing Miller and sealing India’s victory. This moment became pivotal in the World Cup 2024 final, leaving South Africa devastated.
He told ESPNCricinfo:
Miller opened up about his emotions after the match, expressing frustration and disappointment. He admitted he believed his shot had enough power to cross the boundary but acknowledged the small margins that define the game. Despite his heartbreak, he accepted the outcome as part of cricket.
“Pretty hard to explain, but yeah, I suppose anger is probably one of them. Frustration, disappointment, failure, all these negative things come into your head. I watch a lot of different sports and they always talk about the moment to win the game. And I suppose that was the moment to win the game. And it wasn’t to be for me. I took it pretty hard. I felt like I had let the country down, I had let myself and my teammates down. I almost just didn’t want to walk off the field,”
“No, I wouldn’t have, other than maybe getting a little bit better contact (On playing a different shot if going back in time). I wasn’t actually expecting a full toss like that. I always do have a full toss in mind, but it caught me a little off guard and I got it just slightly wrong. But it was a little breeze that was kind of coming across us, not necessarily into us, more slightly in and across. So yeah, the margins are so small. I actually thought I had enough on it,
India’s victory marked a historic moment in their cricket journey, while South Africa narrowly missed out on the coveted title. The World Cup 2024 final will be remembered for Suryakumar Yadav’s fielding brilliance and Hardik Pandya’s nerve in the final over.
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