It’s been almost two years since India tasted their second T20 victory after a lengthy wait period of 11 years since 2013’s Champions Trophy triumph to bring a coveted ICC trophy home. Yet, cricket fans
to this day find it hard to stomach the fact that India’s opponents in the T20 World Cup final, South Africa, managed to bottle the cup despite being in touching distance of scripting history. This was the closest the Proteas had ever come to a white-ball World Cup glory, but fate had other plans.
Sharing the screenshot of South Africa’s commanding position in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final against Rohit Sharma’s India, an X user wrote: “The Biggest unsolved mystery of Twenty first century (sic).” The post soon attracted multiple thousands of views and varied responses from cricket lovers.
So, how did South Africa lose despite needing a run a ball 30 with as many as six wickets in hand?
The Final Battle
India and South Africa gathered at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on 29 June 2024 for the grand finale after remaining unbeaten in the tournament. The historic matchup between two formidable sides, coupled with the fact that the Proteas were playing their maiden T20 World Cup Final, made it a blockbuster contest from the get-go. Indeed, it was.
Opting to bowl first, Aiden Markram’s decision paid quick dividends as India were swiftly down to 34/3. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Virat Kohli once again rose to the occasion at the biggest stage, helping India rebuild their innings with the approach of caution. Kohli’s partner, Axar Patel, played an enterprising innings of 47 off 31 as the duo added an invaluable 72 runs for the fourth wicket. Kohli’s 76 off 59 eventually helped India put up a defendable target on the scoreboard. Shivam Dube’s 27 off 16 enabled the Men in Blue to breach the 170-run mark, putting 176/7 in 20 overs after experiencing the early woes.
South Africa En Route To Creating History?
South Africa mimicked India’s run chase and had a rough start. The opening batter Reeza Hendricks was first castled by India’s fast pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Then, Arshdeep Singh sent the captain Markram packing after the latter was caught behind in the third over of the second innings. At 12/2 on the board, it was Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs who helped South Africa recover and return in the chase.
Also Read: South Africa Don’t Deserve T20 World Cup: Furious Fans Decode Where Proteas Lost
With the departure of Stubbs (31 off 21) in the 9th over and Quinton de Kock’s (39 off 31) exit in the 13th, India heaved a big sigh of relief ever so briefly. The Proteas at 106/4 at one stage, quickly took off after Heinrich Klaasen slammed Axar Patel for 24 runs (22 runs + 2 wides) in the 15h over.
30 Off 30
The equation card, which is routinely shared in cricket circles since the final to mock the epic South African choke, read 30 off 30. With 6 wickets in hand and Klaasen 49 off 22, it was South Africa’s game.
Rohit Sharma brought Bumrah to deliver the 16th over. Deliver he did, and he brought hope to the Indian camp after going only for four runs. The danger man Klaasen (52 off 27) edged one to the keeper and was removed in the next over, bowled by Hardik Pandya. The pressure was building, and the match now tilted towards India. The Men in Blue, who were minutes ago on the backfoot, were back in it again, and the next two overs yielded just 6 runs.
From needing 30 off 30 to 16 in 6, South Africa needed David Miller to finish things off.
Suryakumar Yadav Catch
“Long-off… long off… LONG OFFFFF! Suryakumar Yadav! Suryakumar Yadav ne pakda hai apne career ka sabse important catch,” the voice of Jatin Sapru roared in the commentary box as Suryakumar Yadav caught one of the most memorable catches in cricket’s illustrious history. As Miller launched Pandya’s first ball, hoping for the umpire to signal a six, Yadav sprinted at the long-off position and plucked the ball out of thin air.
The momentum did push him beyond the boundary cushion, but he threw the ball back in the field of play. Making a lightning-quick recovery, Yadav completed the catch to help India win the nail-biting thriller by 7 runs.
Rohit Sharma’s reaction clearly showed he was convinced it was a six but destiny had different plans 😭❤️.
– GOOSEBUMPS GUARANTEED !! pic.twitter.com/dZPswdJZVe
— ???????????? ???????????????????????? (@jod_insane) September 11, 2025
South Africa’s Heartbreak
This was the closest South Africa had come to securing a T20 World Cup. They have played three T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2009, 2014, and 2026. They have lost them all.
Their white-ball woes extend to their unflattering ODI World Cup record, where they have made it to the semi-final five times: 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2023. South Africa are yet to feature in an ODI World Cup Final.
