India become only team to win T20 World Cup title staying unbeaten in tournament
India won the 2024 T20 World Cup while staying unbeaten (Source: @BCCI)
India became the first team to win a T20 World Cup title without losing a match. India won the 2024 T20 WC title by beating South Africa in a thriller on Saturday (June 29) - their eighth win on the trot.
Before India, only Australia had won eight consecutive games in T20 World Cup albeit across two editions - in 2022 and 2024.
India won three games in the Group Stage - against Ireland, Pakistan and the USA before the match against Canada was washed out.
In Super 8, India won all three games - against Afghanistan, Australia and Bangladesh. They then won the semifinal against England before winning the final against the Proteas.
South Africa had also won all their matches leading to the final before losing the final against India in 2024 T20 World Cup.
India are also now only the third team to have two or more T20 titles. Apart from the 2024 edition, India had won the inaugural T20 World Cup back in 2007 as well.
Other than India, West Indies in 2012 & 2016 and England in 2010 & 2022 have won two T20 World Cup titles.
India skipper Rohit Sharma also became only the ninth player to win two T20 WC titles apart from eight West Indies players.
Rohit, along with Virat Kohli, announced his retirement from the T20Is after winning the trophy. Along with them, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also announced his departure from the shortest format a day after the title win.
India had set South Africa 177-run target to win the 2024 T20 World Cup. India won the toss and elected to bat first in Barbados and scored 176/7 in 20 overs.
As for South Africa, they were ahead most of the time and needed 30 runs in last five overs with Heinrich Klaasen and Miller on the crease. Klaasen had taken 24 runs of the 15th over of innings by Axar Patel and looked set to take SA home.
Pandya, however, dismissed Klaasen in 17th over after Bumrah delivered a sensational 16th over - giving away just four runs. The chase derailed from thereon and India came out as eventual winners, holding SA at 169/8.
