T20 World Cup 2024 Stats Review: Most wins as captain, other stats from India vs South Africa, Final

South Africa's wait for a World Cup continues, but India have finally added another trophy to their cabinet, which was empty for almost 13 years. The Men in Blue emerged triumphant at Barbados on Saturday, June 29. 

Choosing to bat first, the Indians started in handsome fashion, getting 15 runs off the first over, with Virat Kohli (76 off 59) hitting three fours in the over. However, Keshav Maharaj(2 for 23) brought out his best in the second over, removing both Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant. 

Suryakumar Yadav followed soon after. But when Kohli was constricted in the middle overs, Axar Patel (47 off 31) stepped up with timely blows and kept India at a steady rate. Axar was unfortunately run out at a crucial juncture, and that is when Kohli decided to pick up the slack with Shivam Dube (27 off 16) for company. Both of them had to depart near the end, leaving India with 176/6 after the first innings. 

Reeza Hendricks fell early in the chase, with his captain Aiden Markram next in line to walk back. But Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21) took the chase to India until his dismissal. Quinton de Kock (39 off 31) tried to hold up one end, but Arshdeep Singh (2 for 20) put an end to his stay with the required only climbing. Enter Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27). Klaasen put validation to his reputation as a spin hitter, treating all three of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel with disdain. 

Klaasen's blitzkrieg brought the required rate down from almost two runs an over to run-a-ball. South Africa were cruising, but Hardik Pandya(3 for 20) put the brakes on to Klaasen and gave away just 4 runs. Jasprit Bumrah(2 for 18) then gave away just 2 runs and took a wicket to suddenly bring the run rate back up to 10 an over.

The 19th over by Arshdeep Singh also resulted in just four runs, putting too much pressure on South Africa. Pandya came on to bowl the last over and Suryakumar Yadav took possibly the catch of the tournament to remove David Miller and the result was decided right then and there. 

Here are the top stats from India vs South Africa, Final T20 World Cup 2024

1 - India's 176/7 is the highest team total in a T20 World Cup final.

5 - This was now the 5th edition of the T20 World Cup where Virat Kohli scored 150 or more runs. Only Mahela Jayawardene has as many, and no one else has more. 

1 - Arshdeep Singh equalled Fazalhaq Farooqi's record for the most wickets in a single T20 World Cup edition.

2 - Heinrich Klaasen's 5 were the second most sixes by a batter in a T20 World Cup final. Marlon Samuels had managed 6 in the 2012 edition.

1 - India played their 14th final in ICC tournaments. Australia sit second with 13.

3 - India became the third team to win 5 or more ICC finals. Australia won 10 out of their 13, while West Indies have won 5 out of 8.

1 - Rohit Sharma became the first captain to win 50 T20I matches. 

1 - India became the first team to win a T20 World Cup unbeaten. India won all of their matches except the one against Canada which was abandoned. 

An emotional Virat Kohli announced that this would be his last T20I in India colours. Here are the major records he will retire with.

2 - As of his retirement, Virat Kohli has the second-most runs in T20I history, with Rohit Sharma holding the top spot. 

1 - Virat Kohli retires as the player with most fifties and the joint-most fifty-plus scores in T20Is.

1 - Kohli also has the most fifties, most fifty-plus score, and most runs in the T20 World Cup. 

1 - With 8, Kohli retires as the player with the most Player of the Match awards in T20 World Cups. His 16 in all T20Is are also the highest. 

2 - Virat Kohli is now only the second player to win Player of the Match in both a semi-final, and a final of the T20 World Cup. Shahid Afridi had won the awards in the respective stages in 2009.