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An extraordinary boundary catch from Suryakumar Yadav has helped India end their decade-long wait for ICC silverware with a thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final.
Having needed just 30 from the final five overs to chase down India’s 7/176, an innings inspired by a calm 76 from veteran Virat Kohli, the Proteas’ infamous tag as tournament ‘chokers’ looked set to rear up again when they managed just 14 from 24 balls in the face of an inspired last stand from India’s bowling attack.
The fall of Heinrich Klaasen after a superb 27-ball 52, edging behind off Hardik Pandya, began the rot, with Jasprit Bumrah, who had earlier castled Proteas opener Reeza Hendricks with a stunning delivery, repeating the dose to bowl Marco Jansen through the gate.
With Pandya needing to defend 16 from the final over, the game was effectively sealed when Yadav, fielding at long off, took an extraordinary catch to remove David Miller, clasping the ball centimetres from the straight boundary, throwing it up as the momentum of the shot carried him over the rope, regaining his balance and completing the screamer.
“That is one of the greatest catches in cricket history!” commentator Ian Smith erupted as Indian fans went wild in the stands and Yadav was mobbed by jubilant teammates.
A third wicket for Pandya put the icing on the cake when Yadav took a far simpler catch to remove Kagiso Rabada off the match’s penultimate ball, as celebrations began in Barbados – and back home in India.
Remarkably, the triumph is the cricket powerhouse’s first piece of ICC silverware since the 2013 Champions Trophy, a streak that has included final losses in the 2014 T20 World Cup, the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2023 ODI World Cup, as well as semi-final losses at the 2016 and 2022 T20 World Cups and the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups.
However, as they celebrated, South African fans took to social media to dispute the legitimacy of Yadav’s stunning catch, suggesting his foot may have slightly flicked the boundary rope padding.
Even more controversially, the padding seemed to have been marginally pushed back at some point in the match, with a shot revealing a white line on the ground centimetres further infield from the rope, and Yadav’s left foot in the space between.
Adding to Proteas fans’ displeasure is what they perceived to be an overly hasty review of the dismissal from third umpire Richard Kettleborough, given the stakes.
Earlier, Kohli, who announced his T20I retirement following the match, became the second highest run-scorer in the history of T20 internationals behind his triumphant captain Rohit Sharma, after hitting 76 from 59 balls to anchor India’s total and return to form following a lean tournament.
The 35-year-old, who remains the biggest star in the sport, was one of several players from both teams to shed tears at the end of a gripping contest – some in joy, others in despair.
But there was an extra layer of emotion for Kohli, who knew he was bidding farewell after 14 years and 125 appearances.
“This was a now-or-never situation. This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup, so I wanted to make the most of it,” he said.
“This was an open secret, it’s not something I wasn’t going to announce if we had lost. It’s time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward.
“It’s been a long wait for us, waiting to win an ICC tournament. We wanted to win that cup. It’s been difficult to hold things back and I think it’s going to sink in later. It’s been an amazing day and I’m thankful.”
Kohli, who was seen making a video call to his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, on the outfield as he took in his side’s victory, saved his best performance of the tournament for the biggest stage.
He had struggled to make an impression throughout the competition, averaging just 10 with a pedestrian strike-rate of a run-a-ball.
Having scored just 75 runs in his previous seven innings, he more than doubled his tournament tally in 59 deliveries at the Kensington Oval as he anchored the innings and led his side to a winning total of 7-176.
For an India side who have finished as runners-up five times in ICC finals in the past decade, spanning all three formats, this was a moment of catharsis.
“It’s hard to sum up what we’ve been through… a lot of high-pressure games that we’ve been on the wrong side of,” said winning captain Sharma.
India lift the trophy after winning the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup in Barbados. (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)
“Guys understand when the pressure is on what needs to be done and today was a perfect example. We stuck together with our backs to the wall. We wanted this really badly.”
Sharma failed to leave his own mark on the final, dismissed for just nine, but was thankful for Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, who took 2/18 and changed the game at the death.
“Come the occasion, big players stand up. No-one was in doubt about Virat, he’s been on top of his game for the last 15 years. Jasprit? I don’t know how he does it. It’s just a masterclass. Class act.”
Proteas skipper Aiden Markram, whose side were chasing a first ever World Cup win and failed to get over the line, was shattered after the match.
“It’s gut-wrenching… the way this game went only adds to the emotions,” he said.
“I’d like to think we’re one step closer to getting that first win. It hurts quite a bit but I’m incredibly proud. South Africans are competitive, respectful and will go down with a fight. This is still a proud moment for us.”
(with AAP)
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