India Wins ICC T20 World Cup: Axar Patel Shines in Thrilling Victory Over South Africa
New Delhi, India – India has ended its 11-year-long wait for an ICC trophy by winning the ICC T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final. This victory makes India the first team to win the trophy unbeaten.
Key Players and Contributions
While stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya made significant contributions, Axar Patel emerged as a silent hero. In eight games, Axar scored 92 runs and took nine wickets, making crucial impacts in several matches.
Memorable Moments
| Match | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Against Pakistan | Scored 20 runs and took 1/11, helping India recover from early setbacks. |
| Against Afghanistan | Scored 12 runs and took 1/15, contributing to a match-winning total. |
| Against Australia | Took a game-changing catch and dismissed Marcus Stoinis, ending with 1/21. |
| Against England | Scored 10 runs and took 3/23, including key wickets of Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, and Moeen Ali. |
| Against South Africa | Scored 47 runs and took a crucial wicket, helping India set a challenging total and defend it. |
Final Match Highlights
In the final, India chose to bat first and scored 176/7, thanks to a 72-run partnership between Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47). South Africa’s chase was thwarted by India’s bowlers, with Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya making key contributions. India restricted South Africa to 169/8, securing the win.
Virat Kohli was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding performance.
With this victory, India has ended its ICC trophy drought, winning their first title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
