After a tremendous heavy heart in Ahmedabad, there was a Caribbean victory song as India held strong to launch the misery in South Africa's direction and win the men's T20 World Cup for the second time.
The relief and happiness that Rohit Sharma's team felt as they wrapped up a seven-run victory were noticeable as they celebrated on the outfield with tricolor flags waving in the breeze.
Their journey to the final had been comparatively smooth and undefeated, but then, so had been their ultimately unsuccessful 50-over World Cup campaign on home soil in the latter part of previous year.
Instead of a group freeze-in on the day, 11 calm heads reappeared at the conclusion of a stressful and exhausting journey.
South Africa will remember this as the one that got away after winning eight straight games, including a good number of thrillers, to go to their first men's global final.
Virat Kohli's 59-ball 76 set up India for the first half, and with 177 to win, the Proteas were now the clear favorites when Heinrich Klaasen smashed five sixes in a 27-ball 52, leaving them needing 26 runs from the final four overs.
But after that, there was an iron grip for their captain that will go down in Indian cricket books, courtesy of performances by Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya.
With the veteran David Miller at the other end, the Proteas were within striking distance of the trophy even after Klaasen was bowled out by Pandya's first ball of the 17th over.
However, the equation became a more frightening 16 off six after witnessing Bumrah upset Marco Jansen's stumps during a magnificent 18th over that cost two extra runs, and then grafting only four from Arshdeep's following over.
Miller attempted to drill Pandya for the climax, but Suryakumar Yadav executed a brilliant grip catch in the deep, skipping in and out of the rope like a professional ballet dancer.
Even if these takes are now commonplace, it was still amazing at the time.
Miller had to watch from the dugout as Pandya sealed his team's victory, which left him in tears at the conclusion.
After their first World Cup victory since 2011 and their first in Twenty20 cricket since the 2007 triumph that served as a spark for the Indian Premier League, Sharma declared, "I'm proud of the boys." "The fans' support of us from New York to Barbados was fantastic.
It goes without saying that Sharma was delighted for Kohli. The previous captain, who had only 75 runs at the end of the first innings, was crucial in a competitive 176 for six when batting first.
After losing three wickets during the powerplay, Kohli slowed down and raced out of the traps before calmingly building to a finale in which he twice cleared the ropes.
Sharma remarked, "Even though I've watched him play for so long, I don't know how he does it."
Following the incident, both Sharma and Kohli said they were retiring T20 internationals, with the latter stating, "It was a now or never situation."
Since this is my final World Cup match and my final T20 match for India, I wanted to make the most of it.''
The outstanding South African captain, Aiden Markram, who had led his team to unprecedented success, remarked: "It's just heartbreaking." That's the truth of the matter.
Every player has experienced a unique journey and it certainly enhances the feelings when you get that close, especially given the nature of the game."
This match was like prizefighters trading blows, especially after the toss, when Ravi Shastri pulled off his greatest Michael Buffer impression.
With Klaasen leading the way with two brilliant catches as India collapsed to 34 for three, South Africa demonstrated the vibrant fielding that has long been the core of their cricket.
Thus India lifted their second T20 World Cup and we witnessed that moment.
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