Watch: Rohit Sharma kisses Hardik Pandya after T20 World Cup triumph in a heartwarming moment

Rohit Sharma-led India, on Saturday (June 29), defeated South Africa to clinch the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue beat the Proteas by 7 runs to win their second T20 World Cup and first since 2007.

India also became the third team after West Indies and England to win the T20 World Cup twice. Batting first, India were in all sorts of trouble after losing three wickets inside five overs. Keshav Maharaj put South Africa in the driver's seat by dismissing Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the second over. Kagiso Rabada then dismissed Suryakumar Yadav in the fifth over to reduce India to 34 for 3.

Virat Kohli and Axar Patel then bailed India out of trouble with a crucial 72-run stand. The former India skipper, who had managed to score only 75 runs in 7 games before the final, roared back to form just when the team needed his services the most. He scored 76 runs with the help of 6 fours and 2 sixes to help India recover from a shaky start to post a competitive total of 176 for 7.

In reply, South Africa started on a shaky note as well as they lost 2 wickets for just 12 runs. However, the Proteas soon recovered and were the favorites to win the game after Heinrich Klaasen's whirlwind fifty. They were on 151 for 4 after 16 overs and needed only 25 runs from the last 24 balls with the likes of Klaasen and David Miller in the middle.

However, India's bowlers came up with a remarkable effort in the last four overs to seal the game for India. South Africa eventually ended their innings on 169 for 8 after Hardik Pandya defended 15 runs in the final over.

Rohit Sharma kisses Hardik Pandya:

Emotions ran high after India sealed the memorable win. The players including the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya were in tears after the game. And during the celebrations, captain Rohit Sharma was also seen kissing Hardik Pandya while the latter was being interviewed. Rohit kissed Pandya on the cheek before both the teams embraced each other.

Watch the heartwarming moment between Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya:

pic.twitter.com/1lxYhV6E3Y

— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) June 29, 2024

 

Meanwhile, the latest triumph has also ended India's long wait for an ICC trophy. India had not won any ICC trophy since 2013 before winning the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.

The triumph has also made Rohit Sharma only the second Indian captain after MS Dhoni to win the T20 World Cup. Rohit was also a part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and is now the only Indian player who has won the tournament twice.