T20 World Cup Final: South Africa suffers most brutal of chokes to add the most painful chapter in its cursed history

South Africa thought they had broken their World Cup curse by progressing past the semi-final stage, but they will struggle to get over the mental damage caused by what happened in the final overs in Barbados. The win for India marking the end for a super star in the T20 International format.

South Africa’s cricket World Cup curse continues, with the cruellest chapter of all written in a devastating choke against India in the final.

The Proteas could just about touch history, needing 30 from the last 30 balls with six wickets remaining to pull off the biggest ever chase (177) in a final of a T20 World Cup.

“Is this the day the rainbow nation finds the pot of gold at the end?” thundered Ian Bishop in the commentary box as South Africa put themselves into the most powerful position imaginable for a run-chase of this magnitude.

But it all went up in smoke for South Africa in Barbados when six-hitting machine Heinrich Klaasen fell from the first ball of the 17th over, nicking off to a wide one for a wonderful 52 off 27, but when his country desperately needed him out there for just a little bit longer.

Heinrich Klaasen leaves the field of play. Picture: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

South Africa were still in it needing 16 off the last over, and controversy reared its head when South African ice man David Miller was adjudged caught on the boundary attempting what would have been six to bring the requirement down to a tasty 10 off the last five balls.

Suryakumar Yadav claimed a spectacular clutch catch, tossing the ball in the air and hopping back over the boundary rope, but eagle-eyed observers on social media questioned whether the Indian had actually flicked the bottom of the rope padding up with his boot before he had released the ball - which if ruled conclusive, would have gifted a crucial six to the Proteas.

Match officials didn’t appear to take a second look on replays, and the rest is history.

“It’s just gut-wrenching,” South African captain Aiden Markram said, following emotional scenes where players including Miller were visibly distraught on field.

“That’s really what it is. Especially the nature of how the game went, obviously adds to the emotions and it’s one of those things.”

Virat Kohli was named man of the match for his anchoring 76 off 59 batting first, and at the post-match presentation after the 7-run win, the King of Indian cricket announced his retirement from T20 international cricket.

Virat Kohli (C) was named player of the match. Picture: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Indian captain Rohit Sharma later dropped the bombshell in the post-match press conference that he was joining Kohli in announcing his immediate retirement from T20 international cricket.

“This has to be the greatest time – I can say that. Because of how desperately I wanted to win this,” Rohit said.

“Winning games for India, winning trophies for India is what I look forward to all the time. Having this (the trophy) now beside me – it is definitely the greatest (moment of his career).

“Virat has been a champion payer without a doubt.

“We all know what he’s done for us and at some point everyone has to say goodbye to the game.”

It was an epic match and one of the best World Cup finals ever.

Rohit Sharma celebrates victory in the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup Final. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Even when Klaasen got out the odds were still in South Africa’s favour needing 26 from 24.

South Africa’s brutal choke was summed up by tail ender Keshav Maharaj (2 not out off 7) taking a single off the last ball of Indian master Jasprit Bumrah’s final over to rob the last specialist batsman Miller of the strike at the critical moment of the game with two overs left.

Had Miller’s down-the-ground strike sailed over for six off the first ball of the last, South Africa would have been even money to pull it out of the bag with their star on strike, but his departure virtually killed off the Proteas chances, and the tail wasn’t good enough to take the eight they needed off the last two balls.

South Africa’s agony has only gone to another level in emotional scenes post-match, but India’s has lifted with the T20 crown their first World Cup title since 2011.

Bumrah was the hero for India, with his iron-clad 2-18 shutting down a South African juggernaut that looked certain to win when Klaasen launched Axar Patel for 24 runs off the 15th over to bring the run rate to basically a run a ball.

“Whenever he has the ball in his hands, he tends to create magic for us every time,” Rohit said.

Jasprit Bumrah was vital at the death. Picture: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Kohli’s 76 runs outstripped his run-scoring efforts for the rest of the World Cup campaign put together, but it wasn’t certain until Bumrah’s late show performance whether Kohli had actually helped or hindered India’s hopes for victory.

The master smashed three fours off Marco Jansen’s first over, but then couldn’t buy a boundary until the death when he took 26 from his last 11 balls faced.

However, in the final wash-up, Kohli’s stoic innings under the cut-throat pressure of a World Cup final proved enough for India to get an enormous millstone off their necks.

Kohli is the clutch King and pulled it out when it mattered. What a player.

With his his player of the match performance, Virat Kohli, bids farewell to T20 international cricket. Picture: Philip Brown/Getty Images

For South Africa, they went one step further than they had before in this tournament – having never previously got past the semi-final stage.

However, getting to the final, and getting so close to the Holy Grail will only cause deeper scars.

Markram tried to play down it being a choke.

“It’s not the first game of cricket that’s been lost with a team needing 30 off 30,” Markram said.

“India is allowed to bowl well. They’re allowed to field well. They’re allowed to go from that position to a position of strength. It happens often in the game.”

Everything at this World Cup was set up for India to win the title.

The home side were gifted morning starts for every one of its matches, and knew they would play a semi-final in Guyana before the tournament even began.

And in the end, India were good enough to take the trophy, after 13 years of stuffing up, chiefly in last year’s ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad.

To add to the cruelty for South Africa, the rain started tumbling down just minutes after India had secured its famous 7 run victory.

South Africa may have ultimately choked, but until the final overs, they had stood up admirably and played their part in creating a final for the ages.

Quinton de Kock smashed 39 off 31 after executing a brilliant run-out during the bowling innings, while Tristan Stubbs’ 31 off 21 and Miller’s 21 off 17 were also worthy contributions.

Klaasen was simply devastating with his brutal half century featuring five sixes and two boundaries which were a perfection of skill and power against India’s spinners.

Kuldeep Yadav has been a superstar of this World Cup for India, yet he was dispatched for figures of 0-45 to give South Africa every chance.

Originally published as T20 World Cup Final: South Africa suffers most brutal of chokes to add the most painful chapter in its cursed history