India Wins T20 World Cup; Kohli retires from T20Is

KATHMANDU: India has won the T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by 7 runs. This is India’s second T20 World Cup title, having previously fallen short in the final of the ODI World Cup.

Chasing a target of 177 runs set by India, South Africa managed to score only 169 runs for 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. This defeat left South Africa, who reached the final for the first time, without the title.

The match was in South Africa’s favor until the last 5 overs. After adding 24 runs in the 15th over, they needed only 30 runs from the remaining 6 overs. However, poor batting performances led to their defeat.

In the final over, South Africa required 16 runs but could only score 8. In the preceding 4 overs, they managed to add just 14 runs, making it increasingly difficult to clinch the title.

Heinrich Klaasen played a half-century inning for South Africa, scoring 51 runs off 27 balls with 2 fours and 5 sixes. Quinton de Kock added 39 runs off 31 balls, hitting 4 fours and 1 six. Tristan Stubbs contributed 31 runs off 21 balls, while David Miller scored 21 runs off 17 balls.

For India, Hardik Pandya took 3 wickets, conceding only 20 runs in his 3 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah took 2 wickets each, while Axar Patel claimed one wicket.

Earlier, India, opting to bat first after winning the toss, scored 176 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs.

Virat Kohli was the top scorer for India with 76 runs off 59 balls, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes. Axar Patel boosted India’s total with 47 runs off 31 balls, including 4 sixes and 1 four, before being run out.

After losing wickets early, India was stabilized by Virat Kohli. Shivam Dube contributed 27 runs off 14 balls with 3 fours and 1 six.

Captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 9 runs, Suryakumar Yadav scored only 3 runs, and Ravindra Jadeja was out for 2 runs. Hardik Pandya remained not out on 5 runs.

For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje took 2 wickets each, while Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada took 1 wicket each.

Virat Kohli announces retirement from T20I cricket

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from T20 international cricket. He made this announcement on Saturday, right after India won the T20 World Cup title.

Kohli played a total of 125 T20I matches, scoring 4,188 runs. During his career, he hit 38 half-centuries and one century.

In the final match, Kohli played an outstanding inning of 76 runs, earning him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

His innings were crucial in securing a seven-run victory for India.

This win marks India’s first T20 World Cup title in 17 years, with their previous win being in 2007.