India captured the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa at the Kensington Oval, making it a nail-biting seven-run victory; these wins seem to bring into reality the prophetic words from earlier this year by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
Shah had boldly said ahead of the renaming of SCA Stadium to Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot back in February, "In 2023, India won hearts despite not winning the World Cup after a string of 10 victories. But mark my words, in 2024, under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, India will lift the T20 World Cup in Barbados." His prophecy rang true as Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah orchestrated India's comeback from a tense scenario of 30 runs off 30 balls into a seven-run triumph. It ended India's 11-year drought for major trophies and sealed their second Men's T20 World Cup triumph.
In scenes of jubilation and emotional TV moments after the win, Ravi Shastri called Shah 'Nostradamus' on live television - a nod to his prophecy in Rajkot. Out in the middle, Hardik Pandya's 3-20 and Jasprit Bumrah's 2-18 limited South Africa to 169/8 in pursuit of Virat Kohli's vital 76, where partnerships with Axar Patel (47 from 31 balls) and Shivam Dube (27 from 16 balls) carried India to a competitive 176/7.
The win made India the second-time winner of the Men's T20 World Cup, joining West Indies and England, and it was a high-note farewell to coach Rahul Dravid. It was also a triumphant exit for Virat Kohli from T20I cricket, as he lifted the World Cup trophy and bagged the Player of the Match award in the final.
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