🏏 ICC T20 WC Final: India 🇮🇳 vs South Africa 🇿🇦 | Chokers for a reason

_source

The national drink of South Africa is humorously referred to as "Choke," a playful jab at the Proteas' reputation for faltering in critical moments. This is not a joke anymore. The Proteas are the biggest chokers of this century, having reached their first final in the century, they choked it again similar to how they have choked the past six semi finals in the pas 15 years.

India, being one of the most dominant sides in this world cup reached the finals undefeated similar to South Africa, who were also undefeated throughout this tournament. India defeated the sorts of Pakistan, Australia and England, whilst South Africa defeated New Zealand, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to make their ways into the Final. India hadn't won any trophy since the T20 World Cup in 2014 having reached multiple finals after that, the lastest being the ODI world Cup 2023 where Australia absolutely thrashed them as Pat Cummins said:

there's nothing more satisfying in sport than making a large, partisan crowd go quiet, a challenge he and his team were eager to embrace

---

India's Playing XI	South Africa Playing XI
Rohit Sharma (C)	Reeza Hendricks
Virat Kohli	Quinton De Kock (WK)
Suryakumar Yadav	Aiden Markram (C)
Rishabh Pant (WK)	Tristan Stubbs
Hardik Pandya	Heinrich Klaasen
Axar Patel	David Miller
Ravindra Jadeja	Marco Jansen
Arshdeep Singh	Keshav Maharaj
Jasprit Bumrah	Kagiso Rabada
Kuldeep Yadav	Anrij Nortje
Shivam Dube	Tabraiz Shamsi

---

Two extremely solid teams, this match had to be one of the best as it turned out to be. Batting first, a lot of hopes were clinged from the Indian team captain and opener, Rohit Sharma, who's also in the list of leading run scorers in this world cup, and his partner, the greatest, Virat Kohli, who's had a tournament to forget with only scoring 75 runs in 7 matches.

The SA bowling attack lead by fierce Nortje, Rabada amd Jansen proved too good for India as they lost their top order and were down to 35/3 in five overs. It was from their, Virat Kohli played a Legend's inning providing anchor to Axar Patel and the 5th wicket partnership brought India back into the game. Virat Kohli scored 76 off 59 deliveries, truly, one of his greatest innings of all time, came when his team needed the most.

_source

---

India put on a target of 179 in 20 overs. A mammoth of a target in any World Cup Finals. Only the team with balls of steel can imagine of chasing it down. South Africa had a similar start as they lost their man in form, and captain, Aiden Markram early on. It was from there Quinton De Kock and Stubbs anchored the innings to a comfortable position untill De Kock gave his wicket from a very reckless unnecessary shot whivh made me shout at him in anger.

Heinrich Klaasen dragged Axar Patel to the gutters he scored 20 runs in his over bringing the required run rate to 6.00 and South Africa needed 29 runs off 29 deliveries with 6 wickets in hand. Comfortable victory for the Proteas right? No. That's when the Indian team captain, Rohit Sharma played a touch of class and brought back Bumrah back into the attack. Bumrah, singlehandedly changed the game and conceded only 1 run in the 18th over of the game and took two very important wickets.

South Africa now needed 16 off 6 deliveries with David Miller still on strike. The first ball was hit powerfully over long on and it seemed like it was going on for a six.... Until... Suryakumar took the catch of the tournament and bagged the trophy for India.