MUMBAI: In a thrilling showdown at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup finals beating South Africa by seven runs the Indian cricket had a stunning finish in Bridgetown, Barbados, late on Saturday night. With this spectacular win, the Indian team etched their name in history by securing their second T20 World Cup title ending an 11-year wait for a global trophy. 

Their previous triumph had come way back in 2007, making this victory all the more special. They became only the third team to win the T20 World Cup twice, after England (2010, 2022) and West Indies (2012, 2016). 

India's path to glory was marked by an unbeaten streak throughout the tournament. They emerged as the first team to lift the T20 World Cup without a single loss. In the final clash against South Africa, India batted first and posted a formidable total of 176 for 7. This score, the highest ever in a T20 World Cup final, set the stage for an intense battle.

Captain Rohit Sharma's leadership was instrumental. His astute decisions and consistent performances guided India to victory. Winning eight out of nine matches, Rohit proved his mettle on the grand stage. Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, continued to shine. Kohli who scored his first fifty in the final, smashing a stylish 76 off 59 balls that included six fours and two sixes to help India reach 176 for 7 after they chose to bat. To calm early anxieties, Kohli's fourth-wicket partnership with Axar Patel (47 in 31 balls) proved to be an able companion. The partnership yielded 72 runs. 

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen achieved the fastest fifty in any men's World Cup final, reaching the milestone in just 23 balls. Despite their valiant effort, South Africa fell short, ending their chase at 169 for 9.

As far as the players from other teams in the 2024 tournament, Afghanistan’s opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 281 runs at an average of 35.12 and a strike rate of 124.33. His consistent performances guided Afghanistan to competitive totals.  West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran’s explosive knock of 98 against Afghanistan stood out as the highest individual score. His innings included 14 boundaries, including eight sixes.

Left-arm pacers India's Arshdeep Singh and Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) dominated the wicket-taking charts with 17 scalps each. Their incisive bowling troubled batters throughout the tournament while spinners Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) and Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh) impressed among the spinners, both claiming 14 wickets.

As India's victory broke an 11-year ICC trophy drought,  it brought joy to millions of fans and celebrations reverberated across cricket-loving nations, emphasizing India's prowess in the shortest format of the game. As the fireworks lit up the night sky at the Wankhede Stadium, Indian cricket fans revelled in a moment they'll cherish for years to come.