In a dramatic display of resilience, Team India clinched the T20 World Cup title after an 11-year ICC trophy drought. Chasing India's total of 176, South Africa looked threatening at one point, but a phenomenal bowling performance in the final overs turned the tide. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya emerged as heroes, restricting the Proteas to 169/8 and securing a narrow victory. The win was met with an outpouring of emotion. Both captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya were seen shedding tears of joy. This heartwarming moment was followed by an even more touching scene - Rohit kissing Hardik's cheek during a post-match interview. The duo's celebration caught everyone's attention, considering the talks around the rift between them after Mumbai Indians' captaincy transition. Back in December, Hardik had taken over the Mumbai Indians captaincy from Rohit, sparking controversy. Their IPL season was dismal, with Mumbai Indians finishing last. Media reports also suggested that the captaincy change negatively impacted team morale. However, the World Cup win and this public display of camaraderie seemed to put those controversies to rest, solidifying the team's unity.
Hardik Pandya's turnaround in the T20 World Cup was nothing short of remarkable. After a challenging few months, he stepped up for India in national colours, delivering impactful performances with both bat and ball throughout the tournament. In the high-pressure final, he came in to bat only in the 19th over, but with the ball, he played a pivotal role. South Africa seemed poised for victory at one stage, needing just 26 runs off the final four overs. However, the tide turned dramatically with Hardik Pandya's dismissal of the in-form Heinrich Klaasen, who had scored a well-paced 52. This crucial wicket put the brakes on South Africa's chase.
Jasprit Bumrah shifted the momentum by removing Marco Jansen for a mere 2 runs off 4 deliveries, further tightening the grip on the Proteas. With the pressure mounting, Rohit Sharma entrusted the 19th over to the young Arshdeep Singh, who delivered a frugal spell, conceding only 4 runs. This set the stage perfectly for Hardik Pandya to finish the job in the final over.
In a display of nerves of steel, Hardik dismissed the dangerous David Miller with the very first ball, thanks to a sensational catch by Suryakumar Yadav at the boundary. This dismissal proved decisive, as India eventually clinched the thrilling encounter by 7 runs, securing their second T20 World Cup title.
WATCH THE HARDIK-ROHIT's HEARTWARMING MOMENT HERE
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