When South Africa faced India in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, they were favourites to win. There was no tension in the South African camp, even though 30 runs were needed in the last five overs with Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller at the crease. But Jasprit Bumrah, India’s star pacer, turned the tide of the match with two outstanding overs that put pressure on South Africa. Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh both played outstanding roles as India won the match by a margin of seven runs to win the trophy.
Regarding the same, it would take a while for the players to bounce back from the defeat, according to former South Africa head coach Russell Domingo. Notably, the Proteas were the favourites at one stage and were playing in their first-ever ICC final. However, they were unable to win, which emotionally wounded a number of players.
Sports Cafe cited Russell Domingo as stating, “It just takes so much out of you that it’s going to take them a long time to get over this.”
The World Cup struggles South Africa is facing are not new. In the cricketing world, they were considered as “chokers” after dropping multiple crucial games that they ought to have won. One such occasion was the final. Nonetheless, they gained recognition for their aggressive style of cricket during the competition and are currently thought to be among the top T20I teams.
The SA20 has also helped the nation reach fresh heights as young players are bursting into the picture much sooner than it used to happen. Many players are featured in the Indian Premier League, which has helped the nation expand.
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“These young people are entering the game and playing right away, whereas in the past it could have taken them a little longer to get into international cricket. During the T20 World Cup final, Russell said, “They’re getting into it very quickly and we’re seeing the performances coming.”