New Delhi:
India beat South Africa in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup, beating the Proteas by 7 runs. Rohit Sharma and company brought an ICC trophy home after 11 years and India’s first World Cup win since 2011.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team for bringing the cup “home in style”.
CHAMPIONS!
Our team brings the T20 World Cup home in STYLE!
We are proud of the Indian Cricket Team.
This match was HISTORIC. 🇮🇳 🏏 🏆 pic.twitter.com/HhaKGwwEDt
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 29, 2024
“Champions! Our team brings the T20 World Cup home in style! We are proud of the Indian Cricket Team,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X.
In a video message congratulating the team, PM Modi said the team won the World Cup and also the “hearts of crores of Indians”. No small achievement that it did not lose a single match, he said.
“Congratulations to India for this magnificent win. Today, 140 crore countrymen are proud of your fantastic performance. You won the World Cup and also the hearts of crores of Indians. You didn’t lose even one match; that’s not a small feat. You have achieved a spectacular victory. I congratulate you,” the prime minister said in Hindi.
It was India’s second T20 World Cup victory after they had won it in 2007 under the legendary MS Dhoni in South Africa, and first since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Star batter Virat Kohli, who was an upcoming cricketer 17 years ago, made his first fifty of this tournament in the final — a classy 76 off 59 balls with six fours and two sixes that carried India to a competitive 176 for seven.
Then the Indian bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh (2/20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18), worked their magic as they did throughout this tournament, limiting South Africa to 169 for eight to propel India to their second T20 World Cup.
There were pockets of fight from the Proteas, who were playing in their maiden World Cup final.
Heinrich Klaasen threatened India with a 52 off 27 balls (2×4, 5×6) but Hardik Pandya (3/20) snatched the crucial wicket to bring the game decisively in favour of India.
Source Agencies