Indian Fans Cheer For South African Players After Proteas Suffer Heartbreaking Defeat In T20 World Cup 2024 Final - WATCH

South Africa suffered a close defeat by seven runs against India in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024, played in Barbados on Saturday (June 29). In reply to India’s total of 176 runs, the Proteas could only manage to score 169 runs for the loss of eight wickets. The defeat in the final was a bitter pill to swallow for the South African players who made it to the final after winning eight matches in a row.

After the Proteas suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the summit clash, a group of Indian fans came forward to console the South African cricketers. In a video going viral on the internet, the fans can be seen cheering for the South African cricketers for their super show throughout the tournament.

In the clip, South African players and the members of coaching staff can be seen boarding the team bus outside the stadium. A few fans, wearing Indian jerseys, gathered there to take pictures with them. Heinrich Klaasen, accompanied by his family members, was walking towards his car when a person was heard saying, “Love you, South Africa. We love you. Well played.”

The fans then went on to cheer for other South African players like Quinton de Kock, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Miller, and Anrich Nortje, who were looking dejected on their way to the team bus.

Many social media users appreciated the gesture by the Indian fans and praised them in the comments section. One of them admitted, “This is a great gesture; this will surely increase the respect between both of these nations.”

Another fan commented, “Saying it proudly we are Indians. This is so wholesome, Indian fans appreciate South African players who put up a great fight in the final. An absolute worthy opponent.”

A person reckoned that the South African players deserved to be appreciated as they “fought tooth and nail for the trophy.”

“South African team, there is absolutely no need to panic, you have played really well, we still have a lot of respect for you and wins and losses are a part of life, either a person wins or learns,” commented an Indian fan.

South Africa made it to the T20 World Cup final for the first time in history by getting the better of Afghanistan by nine wickets in the first semifinal match played at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on June 27 IST.