India fans were in seventh heaven as the Indian cricket team broke their 11-year ICC title jinx and won the T20 World Cup with a
seven-run win over South Africa
in the final at Barbados on Saturday. India had last won a World Cup in 2011 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy and their last ICC title triumph had come in 2013.

The team was starting to earn the tag of chokers but it all came to an end when Hardik Pandya successfully defended 16 runs off the last over and India captured their second T20 World Cup trophy. The victory was followed by joyous celebrations across India as firecrackers went off and fans poured into the streets to celebrate the world title win.

In one of the videos going viral, fans in Mumbai could be seen cheering captain Rohit Sharma’s name.

It wasn’t just in India, expats living outside took to the streets in London and Dubai to celebrate the 2024 World Cup win.

In national capital Delhi, fans in blue India jerseys shed tears of joy and danced on tabletops at a sports bar.

India won a thrilling final by seven runs in Barbados to clinch their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

“It’s an out-of-the-world feeling,” Abhishek Bhagat, a 34-year-old software professional on a visit to Delhi from Belgium, told AFP outside the sports bar.

“I experienced it as a child in 2007 and then again in 2011 and now again in 2024. It’s been a long, long wait and I can’t tell you how much fun we will have.”

Kohli, 35, announced his retirement from international T20 matches in his man-of-the-match speech, and Bhagat said: “King Kohli is a player who performs when it matters.”

Another fan, Rajneesh Duggal said: “It’s a proud moment for every Indian. It is a fitting finale for outgoing coach Rahul Dravid and for Kohli. Hope Rohit stays on.”

However, Rohit also called it quits from T20 matches for India soon after Kohli’s announcement as Indian cricket suffered two major shocks after the triumph.

Thousands of fans took to the streets and drove past the iconic India Gate shouting “Long live India” slogans from their cars and bikes.

India have faltered in the knockout stages of International Cricket Council (ICC) events, despite being ranked number one in both T20s and one-day internationals (ODIs) and number two in Tests.

Rohit and his team came agonisingly close to winning the one-day ICC World Cup at home last year but lost to Australia in the final at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

But the team held their nerves in a close final, and pace bowler Hardik Pandya kept calm to defend 16 runs off the last over.

South Africa, who played their first-ever World Cup final, looked set for the target when they needed 30 from the last five overs but Indian bowlers put the choke on.

Prayers answered

Emotional scenes followed as fans hugged each other at the sports bar, danced on tabletops and ran out to celebrate on the streets at midnight.

News channels repeatedly showed images Saturday of fans holding Hindu fire rituals to urge the gods to take the team to victory over South Africa.

Some featured pictures bedecked with flower garlands of Rohit, who has hit three half-centuries in the tournament, holding the World Cup trophy.

India knocked out defending champions England in the semi-final in Guyana and remained unbeaten in the tournament.

Rohit was part of India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the inaugural edition in 2007, while Kohli won the ODI prize under Dhoni in 2011.

That was India’s previous World Cup triumph, when Dhoni lifted the trophy at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and the country erupted in joy.

Two years later, Dhoni’s team beat hosts England in the 50-over Champions Trophy final but fans had to wait for 11 years for another major title.

India lost in the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup, before last year’s ODI final defeat again left fans heartbroken.

With AFP inputs