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Virat Kohli, who rescued India from early trouble in the T20 World Cup final with his innings of 76, spoke highly of Jasprit Bumrah’s contributions. The senior Indian pacer played a crucial role in India’s World Cup victory, taking two important wickets in the final.
Kohli’s innings, supported by partnerships with Axar Patel (47) and Shivam Dube (27), propelled India to a formidable total of 176, the highest in a World Cup final. South Africa faced a daunting chase of 177, which would have been a record in a final.
In the match, Bumrah’s early dismissal of Reeza Hendricks for just four in his first spell set the tone. He returned to remove Marco Jansen in the 18th over, when South Africa needed 30 runs off 30 balls, further tilting the match in India’s favor. Hardik Pandya’s crucial wicket of Heinrich Klaasen with a slower delivery also played a pivotal role.
At the felicitation ceremony at Wankhede Stadium, Kohli praised Jasprit Bumrah for his exceptional performances throughout the tournament. Bumrah, who claimed 15 wickets overall and was awarded the Man of the Series, notably delivered a match-defining spell of 3/14 against Pakistan.
“Like everyone in the stadium here, we also felt at one point if it is going to slip away again, but what happened in those last five overs was truly, truly special. You know what I’d like everyone to do is applaud a guy who brought us back into games again and again and again in this tournament. What he did in those last five overs, bowling two out of the last five overs, it was phenomenal. A huge round of applause for Jasprit Bumrah, please. We are lucky that he plays for us” Kohli told a packed Wankhede after Team India’s open bus parade in Mumbai.
The crowd at Wankhede Stadium showed their appreciation for Jasprit Bumrah’s performance with enthusiastic chants of ‘Boom Boom’ Bumrah. Presenter Gauram Kapur went as far as declaring Bumrah a national treasure of India and humorously asked Virat Kohli to endorse a petition to formalize it.
“I am thinking of signing a petition to declare Jasprit Bumrah as a national treasure. Will you sign it?,” he asked. “I will sign it right now,” Kohli responded.
In the critical 16th over of South Africa’s innings, Jasprit Bumrah conceded just four runs, showcasing his precision and control. Returning for the decisive 18th over, Bumrah claimed the key wicket of Marco Jansen, which swung momentum back in India’s favor. Hardik Pandya then defended 16 runs in the final over, sealing India’s victory in their first World Cup title in 13 years.
Jasprit Bumrah, named Player of the Tournament, expressed deep emotion following India’s World Cup triumph. He praised the entire Indian bowling unit and extended gratitude to everyone involved for their contributions, ending India’s drought of ICC titles.
