Cricket is more than just a sport in India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard—it’s a passion that unites millions. When these two cricketing giants clashed in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on June 29, 2024, at Bridgetown, Barbados, the world witnessed a match that had everything: drama, skill, and heart-stopping moments. India emerged victorious, ending an 11-year ICC trophy drought, while South Africa, despite a valiant effort, fell short in their quest for a maiden World Cup title. Let’s dive into the details of this epic showdown, breaking down the scorecard and reliving the moments that made this match unforgettable.

Table of Contents

The Stage is Set

The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown was buzzing with anticipation. India, led by the dynamic Rohit Sharma, had been unbeaten throughout the tournament, showcasing a blend of aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. South Africa, under Aiden Markram’s captaincy, had also gone unbeaten, clawing their way through tight matches to reach their first-ever T20 World Cup final. Both teams were hungry, but only one could lift the coveted trophy.

The pitch at Bridgetown was a balanced one, offering something for both batters and bowlers. It had enough bounce for the pacers, a bit of turn for the spinners, and the potential for big scores if batters applied themselves. South Africa won the toss and elected to field, hoping to restrict India and chase under the lights. What followed was a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball.

India’s Batting: A Tale of Resilience

India’s innings got off to a rocky start. Rohit Sharma, the captain, was dismissed for just 9 runs in the second over, caught by Heinrich Klaasen off Keshav Maharaj’s spin. The early blow was followed by the quick dismissals of Rishabh Pant (0) and Suryakumar Yadav (3), leaving India reeling at 34/3 in 4.5 overs. The South African bowlers, particularly Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, were on fire, exploiting the early conditions with pace and precision.

Enter Virat Kohli, the backbone of India’s batting lineup. Known for stepping up in big moments, Kohli anchored the innings with a masterclass in controlled aggression. He found an able partner in Axar Patel, who was promoted up the order to counter the South African attack. The duo stitched together a crucial 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket, steadying the ship. Axar played a counter-attacking knock of 47 off 31 balls, including four sixes, before falling to Aiden Markram in the 12th over.

Kohli continued to hold one end, mixing caution with occasional flair. He was joined by Shivam Dube, who played a handy cameo of 27 off 16 balls, including three fours and a six. Their 57-run stand for the fifth wicket pushed India towards a competitive total. Kohli finished unbeaten on 76 off 59 balls, with six fours and two sixes, guiding India to 169/8 in their 20 overs. Hardik Pandya chipped in with a quick 5 not out off 2 balls, ensuring India ended with a flourish.

South Africa’s bowlers were disciplined but expensive at times. Marco Jansen (2/49) and Kagiso Rabada (1/36) were the pick of the pacers, while Keshav Maharaj (2/23) and Anrich Nortje (2/26) kept things tight. However, India’s middle-order resilience ensured they posted a challenging total.

South Africa’s Chase: A Rollercoaster Ride

Chasing 170, South Africa needed a solid start. Openers Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock began cautiously, but India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, kept the pressure on. Hendricks fell for 4 in the third over, trapped LBW by Arshdeep Singh. Aiden Markram followed soon after, dismissed for 4 by Bumrah, leaving South Africa at 12/2.

Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs then steadied the innings with a 58-run partnership for the third wicket. De Kock played with intent, scoring 39 off 31 balls, while Stubbs contributed 31 off 21. Just as South Africa seemed to be gaining momentum, Axar Patel struck, removing Stubbs in the 10th over. Heinrich Klaasen joined de Kock, and the duo took South Africa to 81/3 at the halfway mark.

The turning point came in the 12th over when Kuldeep Yadav dismissed de Kock, breaking a dangerous partnership. Klaasen, however, kept South Africa in the hunt with a blistering 52 off 27 balls, including five sixes. His partnership with David Miller (21 off 17) brought South Africa within touching distance, needing just 30 runs off the last three overs with five wickets in hand.

But India’s bowlers, led by Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, had other plans. Pandya struck twice in the 17th over, dismissing Miller and Marco Jansen (2) in quick succession. With 16 runs needed off the final over, Pandya held his nerve, removing Klaasen and Keshav Maharaj (2) to seal the deal. South Africa finished at 149/8, falling 7 runs short. Bumrah (2/18), Arshdeep (2/20), and Pandya (3/20) were the stars with the ball, while Kuldeep Yadav’s 2/32 in the middle overs proved crucial.

India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard T20 World Cup 2024

Match Details

Date: June 29, 2024
Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to field
Result: India won by 7 runs
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (76* off 59 balls)

India Innings (169/8 in 20 overs)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Rohit Sharma (c)	c Klaasen b Maharaj	9	5	2	0	180.00
Virat Kohli	not out	76	59	6	2	128.81
Rishabh Pant (wk)	c de Kock b Rabada	0	2	0	0	0.00
Suryakumar Yadav	c Klaasen b Jansen	3	7	0	0	42.86
Axar Patel	c de Kock b Markram	47	31	1	4	151.61
Shivam Dube	c Miller b Nortje	27	16	3	1	168.75
Hardik Pandya	not out	5	2	1	0	250.00
Ravindra Jadeja	c Markram b Nortje	2	3	0	0	66.67
Kuldeep Yadav	c Stubbs b Jansen	0	2	0	0	0.00
Arshdeep Singh	run out (de Kock/Maharaj)	1	3	0	0	33.33
Jasprit Bumrah	did not bat	–	–	–	–	–
Extras	(lb 2, w 7)	9
Total	(8 wickets, 20 overs)	169		13	7

Fall of Wickets:

1-23 (Sharma, 1.5 ov)
2-23 (Pant, 2.1 ov)
3-34 (Yadav, 4.5 ov)
4-106 (Patel, 11.6 ov)
5-163 (Dube, 17.4 ov)
6-165 (Jadeja, 18.2 ov)
7-166 (Yadav, 18.5 ov)
8-168 (Singh, 19.4 ov)

South Africa Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Wides
Marco Jansen	4	49	2	12.25	2
Keshav Maharaj	3	23	2	7.67	1
Kagiso Rabada	4	36	1	9.00	2
Aiden Markram	2	16	1	8.00	0
Anrich Nortje	4	26	2	6.50	1
Tabraiz Shamsi	3	17	0	5.67	1

South Africa Innings (149/8 in 20 overs)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Reeza Hendricks	lbw b Arshdeep Singh	4	5	1	0	80.00
Quinton de Kock (wk)	c Jadeja b Kuldeep Yadav	39	31	4	1	125.81
Aiden Markram (c)	c Pant b Bumrah	4	5	1	0	80.00
Tristan Stubbs	c Pant b Axar Patel	31	21	3	1	147.62
Heinrich Klaasen	c Pant b Pandya	52	27	2	5	192.59
David Miller	c Yadav b Pandya	21	17	2	1	123.53
Marco Jansen	c Kohli b Pandya	2	4	0	0	50.00
Keshav Maharaj	c Yadav b Arshdeep Singh	2	7	0	0	28.57
Kagiso Rabada	not out	4	3	1	0	133.33
Anrich Nortje	not out	1	1	0	0	100.00
Tabraiz Shamsi	did not bat	–	–	–	–	–
Extras	(lb 2, w 6)	8
Total	(8 wickets, 20 overs)	149		13	8

Fall of Wickets:

1-7 (Hendricks, 2.1 ov)
2-12 (Markram, 2.6 ov)
3-70 (Stubbs, 9.3 ov)
4-100 (de Kock, 11.5 ov)
5-139 (Miller, 16.3 ov)
6-142 (Jansen, 16.6 ov)
7-144 (Klaasen, 17.2 ov)
8-148 (Maharaj, 19.3 ov)

India Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Wides
Arshdeep Singh	4	20	2	5.00	1
Jasprit Bumrah	4	18	2	4.50	0
Axar Patel	4	49	1	12.25	2
Kuldeep Yadav	4	32	2	8.00	1
Hardik Pandya	3	20	3	6.67	2
Ravindra Jadeja	1	8	0	8.00	0

Match Notes:

South Africa: 50 runs in 7.1 overs (43 balls)
South Africa: 100 runs in 11.3 overs (70 balls)
South Africa: 150 runs in 15.2 overs (93 balls)
Heinrich Klaasen: 50 off 23 balls (2×4, 5×6)
India’s 169/8 was their highest total in a T20 World Cup final.
Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Tournament for his 15 wickets in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Key Moments That Defined the India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard

Early Collapse and Kohli’s Rescue Act: India’s top order crumbled to 34/3, but Kohli’s calm presence and Axar’s aggression turned the tide. Kohli’s 76* was a masterclass in pacing an innings, earning him the Player of the Match award.
South Africa’s Middle-Order Fightback: Klaasen’s explosive 52 kept South Africa alive, and at one point, they looked favorites to chase down 170. His five sixes, including a monstrous one off Axar Patel, had the crowd roaring.
Pandya’s Final Over Heroics: With 16 runs needed in the last over, Hardik Pandya delivered a nerveless performance, dismissing Klaasen and Maharaj to seal India’s victory. His 3/20 was a testament to his ability to perform under pressure.
Bumrah’s Brilliance: Jasprit Bumrah’s 2/18, including the key wicket of Markram, set the tone for India’s bowling effort. His ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers in the death overs was unmatched.

The Emotional Aftermath

For India, the victory was a moment of redemption. After years of near-misses in ICC tournaments, Rohit Sharma’s team delivered when it mattered most. The sight of Rahul Dravid, the usually stoic coach, celebrating with unbridled joy as he lifted the trophy was a highlight for fans. Virat Kohli, reflecting on his journey, credited his IPL 2008 conversations with Mark Boucher for shaping his career, adding a personal touch to the triumph.

South Africa, despite the loss, earned respect for their spirited campaign. Aiden Markram, in his post-match comments, expressed pride in his team’s effort, noting that they fought until the last ball. The Proteas’ trophy cabinet may still be bare, but their performance in 2024 showed they are a force to be reckoned with.

Why This India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Matters

This final wasn’t just about runs and wickets—it was a clash of two cricketing cultures. India, with their depth and flair, against South Africa, known for their resilience and raw talent. The match showcased the evolution of T20 cricket, where strategy, adaptability, and mental toughness are as crucial as skill.

For young fans, this game was a lesson in perseverance. India’s recovery from 34/3 and South Africa’s fightback from 12/2 showed that no situation is hopeless. For older fans, it was a reminder of why cricket is called a game of glorious uncertainties.

Looking Ahead

India’s victory solidified their status as T20 giants, while South Africa’s performance signaled their potential to break their ICC trophy jinx soon. Both teams will meet again in future series, and if this final is anything to go by, those encounters will be must-watch events.