India defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final to win their second ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
With this victory, India became just the third side to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup twice, England (2010, 2022) and West Indies (2012, 2016) being the only other teams to have achieved the feat.
It was a comeback for the ages, as India fought back after South Africa needed merely 30 runs at run a ball.
Tributes started to pour as soon as Hardik Pandya had delivered the final ball of the game, with cricket’s great legends leading the way.
Former India captain MS Dhoni, under whose leadership India won the inaugural T20 World Cup way back in 2007, congratulated Rohit Sharma’s side on clinching the game in the final moments.
Sachin Tendulkar congratulated among others, his former teammate, India’s outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid on this incredible feat. He also lauded India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, calling it an excellent feat under India’s “Class of ‘96”.
Other former cricketing greats also joined in, giving their tributes on this spectacular win. A special mention was kept for Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh, who delivered the game-changing last five overs in the final.
This was also the occasion when two India stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, announced their respective retirements from T20I cricket. The duo finish atop the T20I run-getters list, and have a number of records to their name.
This was Kohli’s third ICC trophy title after the Men’s Cricket World Cup (2011), and the Champions Trophy (2013), whereas this was the second T20 World Cup title for Rohit Sharma, after 2007. Rohit was also a part of the Indian side that won the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Prominent cricketing personalities gave tributes to the two players, calling it the perfect finish to their T20I careers.
