T20 World Cup: India end drought with win over South Africa, Virat Kohli calls it quits
- India win a thrilling final by seven runs in Barbados to clinch their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy
![India’s players celebrate after beating South Africa in the T20 World Cup final. Photo: AP](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/06/30/ce53cba5-3764-43ce-9743-9ef84ba9212c_eac8a522.jpg?itok=IUqL5SaI&v=1719719338)
Fans in blue India jerseys shed tears of joy and danced on tabletops at a sports bar in New Delhi on Saturday as Rohit Sharma’s team edged South Africa to win the T20 World Cup and end a global title drought.
India won a thrilling final by seven runs in Barbados to clinch their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
India last won a World Cup in 2011 at home under M.S. Dhoni, who earlier led the team to a T20 World Cup trophy in the inaugural edition in 2007.
Star batsman Virat Kohli played a knock for the ages in his 59-ball 76 to guide India to 176-7, a total their bowlers defended by restricting the Proteas to 169-8.
During his man-of-the-match speech, Kohli, 35, announced his retirement from international T20 matches before Rohit followed suit as Indian cricket suffered two major shocks after the triumph.
![India’s Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20 cricket immediately after the World Cup victory. Photo: AP India’s Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20 cricket immediately after the World Cup victory. Photo: AP](https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/06/30/0c69cf1a-02ea-49dd-bcdb-9b39d56bead9_d5301715.jpg)
Thousands of fans took to the streets and drove past the famous India Gate shouting “Long live India” slogans from their cars and bikes.
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