New Delhi: India got off to a flyer against South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday after Virat Kohli went after left-arm pacer Marco Jansen to hit him for three boundaries and helped the Men in Blue get 15 runs from the first over. However, the joy didn’t last too long for India as they ended up losing two wickets in the next over.
Keshav Maharaj jolted India with a sensational over as he dismissed Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant inside just three balls. Maharaj was introduced early into the attack by South Africa skipper Aiden Markram in the second over. The move paid off well as the left-arm spinner managed to get rid of Rohit cheaply on 9 off 5 balls on the 4th delivery of the over.
It was a tossed-up delivery from Maharaj on the off-stump line. Rohit went for a sweep and the ball flew straight into the hands of Heinrich Klaasen, who was stationed at backward square leg. The wicket came as a huge blow to India as Rohit headed into the final on the back of stunning form having notched up successive fifties in India’s last two matches.
Maharaj didn’t stop there as he went on to pile more misery on India by dismissing Pant on a duck on the last ball of the over to make it two wickets in three balls. Pant was also looking to sweep Maharaj and the ball ended up in the air after hitting the lob of his bat. Quinton de Kock completed an easy catch to help Maharaj get 2 wickets in three balls as South Africa bounced back in style after the expensive first over.
Watch Maharaj dismisses Rohit in T20 World Cup 2024 final:
After Maharaj’s double strike in the second over, India lost another wicket in the 5th over as in-form Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed cheaply on just 3 runs off 4 balls by pacer Kagiso Rabada. The India no.3 was caught by Heinrich Klaasen near the boundary rope trying to hit a big shot on a short ball from the fast bowler.
Virat Kohli helps India fight back
Curbing his struggles in the all-important final, Kohli helped India fight back after a poor start. Kohli held his crease strong on one end and combined with Axar Patel, who was promoted to no.5 to share an important partnership for the fourth wicket. Kohli was 36 not out off 29 balls while Axar was on 26 off 20 balls as India reached 75/3 in 10 overs.
Having gotten off to a good start, Kohli will be hoping to put India on the driver’s seat with a big knock in the final.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj picked up two wickets in three balls as he dismissed Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the same over to jolt India in the T20 World Cup 2024 final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
