New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking with the Indian men’s cricket team Sunday morning, congratulated the players for emerging as the world champions, bringing an end to a 13-year drought.
After a thrilling finish in Barbados Saturday — which saw bowlers Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah curtail South Africa with India winning the T20 World Cup final by seven runs — the PM congratulated the players’ commitment to the game.
“Spoke to the Indian [cricket] team and congratulated them on their exemplary success at the T20 World Cup. They have shown excellent skill and spirit throughout the tournament. Each player’s commitment is very motivating,” Modi said later in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
With a target of 177, South Africa seemed to be in control, with five overs to go before the match-end. Requiring 30 runs from 30 deliveries, South Africa was tipped to win the match until Pandya’s first delivery in the 16th over saw Heinrich Klaasen, who was batting on 52 off 27 deliveries, edge the ball to Rishabh Pant, turning the game in India’s favour.
Bumrah’s next over saw the fall of Marco Jansen, followed by Pandya bowling the 19th over. Pandya’s first delivery saw David Miller fall to a magnificent catch near the boundary ropes by Suryakumar Yadav, ensuring India’s first World Cup victory since the 2013 edition in India.
India’s wait for a World Cup for 13 years finally ended as the team, which had lost the Cricket World Cup final in November 2023 in India, came through to bring home the T20 World Cup after 17 years.
While Jasprit Bumrah was awarded Player of the Tournament, Virat Kohli, whose 76 runs helped India reach 176/7 after 20 overs, was declared the Man of the Match.
Kohli announced his retirement from T20 internationals after receiving the award as congratulatory messages poured in for the team from political leaders.
President Droupadi Murmu also congratulated the team in an X post.
“My heartiest congratulations to Team India for winning the T20 World Cup. With the never-say-die spirit, the team sailed through difficult situations and demonstrated outstanding skills throughout the tournament. It was an extraordinary victory in the final match. Well done, Team India! We are proud of you!” said Murmu wrote.
“Congratulations to Team India on a spectacular World Cup Victory and a phenomenal performance throughout the tournament! Surya, what a brilliant catch! Rohit, this win is a testament to your leadership. Rahul, I know team India will miss your guidance. The spectacular Men in Blue have made our country proud,” Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition of the Lok Sabha, said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and President of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge in an X post said, “In a nail-biting final, Team India won the #T20WorldCup after 17 years! Many Congratulations to the Men in Blue for their impressive display of talent and dedication…Every Indian is proud of this incredible victory.”
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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