India's agonizing 11-year wait for a global title was brought to a triumphant end as they clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final.
The star-studded Indian team, led by the ingenuity of Virat Kohli and the inspirational captaincy of Rohit Sharma, secured their second T20 World Cup trophy on Saturday at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
After winning the toss, Rohit Sharma opted to bat first, leading India to post a challenging total of 176 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Key contributions came from Virat Kohli, who scored a crucial 76 off 59 balls, and Axar Patel, who added 47 off 31 balls. Despite a valiant effort from South Africa, who managed 169 for 8 in their chase, India emerged victorious.
Prize Money Distribution
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the prize money for the 2024 T20 World Cup as follows:
Champions India: $2.45 million while runners-up South Africa: $1.28 million while losing Semi-finalists England and Afghanistan: $787,500 each.
The final saw Heinrich Klaasen's explosive 52 off 27 balls posing a significant challenge to the Indian bowlers. However, Rohit Sharma and his team clawed their way back into the game with a resilient performance, particularly from Hardik Pandya, who defended 16 runs in the final over to seal the victory.
The victory marked India's first ICC trophy since 2013 and their maiden T20 World Cup crown in the post-IPL era.
The sense of relief and jubilation was palpable among the Indian team, especially for stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The win also served as a fitting farewell for head coach Rahul Dravid.
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