Follow UsSouth Africa needed 30 off 30 deliveries, with six wickets remaining, to win the 2024 T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma and his men looked down and out, but then came Jasprit Bumrah and the ace paceman turned the game on its head.
Bumrah gave four runs in the 16th over before Hardik Pandya did the same in the next over, including the game-changing wicket of Heinrich Klaasen (27-ball 52). Bumrah then bowled the next over and dismissed Marco Jansen. Just two runs from the over, and then Arshdeep Singh and Hardik closed the game for India.
The Men in Blue won by seven runs and lifted their first ICC title since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013. “Usually, I’m the one who tries to keep my emotions in check and get the job done but today I don’t have many words, I don’t usually cry after a game but the emotions are taking over,” said Bumrah, who was named Player of the Tournament.
“We were in trouble but we’re really over the moon to win from that stage. My family is here, we came close last time and we got the job done, there’s no better feeling than to get your team through in a game like this. It just felt good, tried to keep myself in a bubble and tried not to think too far ahead.
“When the big day comes, you have to do it; throughout the tournament, I felt very clear. I always think about one ball and one over at a time, don’t think too far ahead. Emotions can take over, it was taking over but you have to keep it in check but now that the game is over, it can come out and you can scream and shout.”
Bumrah came to bowl the 16th over just after Axar Patel was smacked for 24 runs. “I saw the ball was a bit scuffed up and it would reverse a bit, thought which would be the most difficult shot for the batter and was able to execute it.”
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