New Delhi: Outgoing India head coach Rahul Dravid got the best-ever farewell gift as India defeated South Africa by seven runs to lift the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados on Saturday night. As a player, Dravid has been a part of two ICC finals – 2002 Champions Trophy and the 2003 ODI World Cup. As an India senior team head coach, Dravid guided the side to the WTC and ODI World Cup finals in 2023 before getting his hand to the champions trophy in his fifth attempt. For the unknown, Dravid also has a U-19 World Cup winners’ medal to his name when he was the Indian coach in the 2018 edition.
Rahul Dravid showing emotion.Ive seen it all. pic.twitter.com/rdaC3JqoKX
— R (@findgoddd) June 29, 2024
Soon after India won the game, the camera panned to Dravid in the dressing room as the 51 jumped in joy and punched in the air in celebration. Earlier, 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 176/7. 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 169/8 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.
But a large chunk of the credit should go to Kohli for anchoring the innings and pushing India to a fighting total. He completed his fifty in 48 balls, but the knock was what precisely India needed the early dismissals of skipper Rohit Sharma (9), Rishabh Pant (0) and Suryakumar Yadav (3), which had reduced India to a worrying 34 for three.
However, Kohli had an able partner in Axar Patel (47, 31 balls, 1×4, 6×4) during the fourth wicket alliance that produced precious 72 runs to ease the early nerves. After the run-out of Axar, who took on SA bowlers bravely, another left-hander Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls, 3×4 1×6) gave some late steam to Indian innings.
