India 176-7 (20 overs): Kohli 76 (59), Axar 47 (31); Maharaj 2-23, Nortje 2-26
South Africa 169-8 (20 overs): Klaasen 52 (27)
Electing to bat on a dry surface, 2007 champions India overcame a top-order meltdown to post a competitive 176-7.
Virat Kohli (76) struck his first 50 of this World Cup and Axar Patel smashed 47 to power India to a healthy total.
Anrich Nortje and Keshav Maharaj claimed two wickets apiece for South Africa.
The Proteas suffered a top order collapse of their own but Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs (31) put their chase back on track.
Heinrich Klaasen (52) then counter-attacked in spectacular fashion but India's impeccable death-overs bowling restricted South Africa to 169-8.
India ended their 13-year wait for a world title by fighting back to beat South Africa in a thrilling T20 World Cup final.
The Proteas needed 26 from 24 balls in pursuit of 177, but the wicket of Heinrich Klaasen for 52 from 27 swung a dramatic game in India’s favour.
Arshdeep Singh conceded only four from the penultimate over, leaving Hardik Pandya to defend 16 from the last.
David Miller was sensationally caught by Suryakumar Yadav at long-off for 21 from the first ball before India closed out a seven-run win.
It sparked jubilant scenes among the India players and fans in Barbados, including superstar Virat Kohli, who dragged his side to 176-7 with 76 off 59.
For South Africa it was a horrible defeat that brought back all of the pain of World Cups past.
The game looked done during Klaasen’s onslaught but Hardik removed him by finding a thin edge through to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.
Even as Klaasen slumped off, South Africa remained favourites.
They have done so much to banish the one cruel reputation of choking that follows their cricket team around.
In the end, up against some superb bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, who took 2-18 in a high-scoring game, they faltered again at the last.
In the final moments, Kagiso Rabada edged a four and Hardik bowled a wide, leaving eight needed from the last two balls before Radaba was caught at long-off.
India have so much in their favour – a team of superstars chosen from population of 1.4 billion and the largest proportion of the revenue generated in the game.
As they celebrated, none of that mattered. It was an occasion of pure sporting drama and relief.
The Proteas, like India, had progressed to this point unbeaten. They had come through a series of tight games and their semi-final win against Afghanistan was their first victory in the last four of a World Cup in eight attempts.
India captain Rohit Sharma gambled by using Bumrah’s final over when there were still two to follow. He will have been grateful to 25-year-old left-armer Arshdeep, whose mix of pace in the 19th was superb.
In the closing moments India were just more clinical. This will hurt South Africa just as much, if not more, than those previous semi-final defeats.
Jasprit Bumrah is Player of the Series: "I tried to keep calm. We play the sport for this, I am really over the moon, my son is here, family is here, we've been working really hard towards this, no better feeling than that. We play sport for the big stages. On the big day, you have to give more, throughout the tournament I felt very clear and calm. At my peak mindset I think of one ball at a time. The emotions can take over, but now the job is done. That over I thought length ball was the option, it was reverse-swinging and I was glad to execute."
Virat Kohli is Player of the Match: "This was my last t20 World Cup, and this is what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel you can't get a run, then things happen. God is great, and I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered. Now or never, last T20 for India, wanted to make the most of it. Wanted to lift the cup, wanted to respect the situation rather than force it. This was an open secret, it's time for the next generation to take over, some amazing players will take the team forward and keep the flag waving high."
Hardik: "It's very emotional, something was not clicking, but this was something the whole nation wanted. Special for me after my six months, I haven't spoken a word, things have been unfair, but I knew there'd be a time I could shine. An opportunity like this makes it all the more special. We always believed, stayed calm, let the pressure come to them. Last over, I knew I had to execute my plans. All of a sudden my run-up speed increases. I have been in this situation, I enjoy the pressure situation."
Dravid's last day as coach ... "I am happy for him, wonderful man, good relationship with him, became friends, excited for him." He signs off with a kiss from his captain!
Axar: "I'm not thinking this is the final, I just play on the merit. Rohit is an amazing man, led India well... gave everything, and we enjoyed it and did our best. I thought I'd be down the order today, but three early wickets and Rahul told me. I didn't think about my batting and that works for me."
South Africa 169-8 (20 overs): Klaasen 52 (27)
Electing to bat on a dry surface, 2007 champions India overcame a top-order meltdown to post a competitive 176-7.
Virat Kohli (76) struck his first 50 of this World Cup and Axar Patel smashed 47 to power India to a healthy total.
Anrich Nortje and Keshav Maharaj claimed two wickets apiece for South Africa.
The Proteas suffered a top order collapse of their own but Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs (31) put their chase back on track.
Heinrich Klaasen (52) then counter-attacked in spectacular fashion but India's impeccable death-overs bowling restricted South Africa to 169-8.
India ended their 13-year wait for a world title by fighting back to beat South Africa in a thrilling T20 World Cup final.
The Proteas needed 26 from 24 balls in pursuit of 177, but the wicket of Heinrich Klaasen for 52 from 27 swung a dramatic game in India’s favour.
Arshdeep Singh conceded only four from the penultimate over, leaving Hardik Pandya to defend 16 from the last.
David Miller was sensationally caught by Suryakumar Yadav at long-off for 21 from the first ball before India closed out a seven-run win.
It sparked jubilant scenes among the India players and fans in Barbados, including superstar Virat Kohli, who dragged his side to 176-7 with 76 off 59.
For South Africa it was a horrible defeat that brought back all of the pain of World Cups past.
The game looked done during Klaasen’s onslaught but Hardik removed him by finding a thin edge through to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.
Even as Klaasen slumped off, South Africa remained favourites.
They have done so much to banish the one cruel reputation of choking that follows their cricket team around.
In the end, up against some superb bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, who took 2-18 in a high-scoring game, they faltered again at the last.
In the final moments, Kagiso Rabada edged a four and Hardik bowled a wide, leaving eight needed from the last two balls before Radaba was caught at long-off.
India have so much in their favour – a team of superstars chosen from population of 1.4 billion and the largest proportion of the revenue generated in the game.
As they celebrated, none of that mattered. It was an occasion of pure sporting drama and relief.
The Proteas, like India, had progressed to this point unbeaten. They had come through a series of tight games and their semi-final win against Afghanistan was their first victory in the last four of a World Cup in eight attempts.
India captain Rohit Sharma gambled by using Bumrah’s final over when there were still two to follow. He will have been grateful to 25-year-old left-armer Arshdeep, whose mix of pace in the 19th was superb.
In the closing moments India were just more clinical. This will hurt South Africa just as much, if not more, than those previous semi-final defeats.
Jasprit Bumrah is Player of the Series: "I tried to keep calm. We play the sport for this, I am really over the moon, my son is here, family is here, we've been working really hard towards this, no better feeling than that. We play sport for the big stages. On the big day, you have to give more, throughout the tournament I felt very clear and calm. At my peak mindset I think of one ball at a time. The emotions can take over, but now the job is done. That over I thought length ball was the option, it was reverse-swinging and I was glad to execute."
Virat Kohli is Player of the Match: "This was my last t20 World Cup, and this is what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel you can't get a run, then things happen. God is great, and I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered. Now or never, last T20 for India, wanted to make the most of it. Wanted to lift the cup, wanted to respect the situation rather than force it. This was an open secret, it's time for the next generation to take over, some amazing players will take the team forward and keep the flag waving high."
Hardik: "It's very emotional, something was not clicking, but this was something the whole nation wanted. Special for me after my six months, I haven't spoken a word, things have been unfair, but I knew there'd be a time I could shine. An opportunity like this makes it all the more special. We always believed, stayed calm, let the pressure come to them. Last over, I knew I had to execute my plans. All of a sudden my run-up speed increases. I have been in this situation, I enjoy the pressure situation."
Dravid's last day as coach ... "I am happy for him, wonderful man, good relationship with him, became friends, excited for him." He signs off with a kiss from his captain!
Axar: "I'm not thinking this is the final, I just play on the merit. Rohit is an amazing man, led India well... gave everything, and we enjoyed it and did our best. I thought I'd be down the order today, but three early wickets and Rahul told me. I didn't think about my batting and that works for me."
