New Delhi:

India’s victory in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa on Saturday not only sparked celebrations across the country but also inspired creative and heartfelt congratulatory messages from various police forces. The team, led by skipper Rohit Sharma and bolstered by Virat Kohli’s match-winning performance, clinched a seven-run victory, marking India’s second world title in the format.

“We all waited 16 years 9 months 5 days (52,70,40,000 seconds) for India to win another #T20WorldCup. Let’s be a little patient at traffic signals too. Good moments are worth the wait. What say? Hearty congratulations, #TeamIndia. #INDvsSA #INDvSA,” the Delhi Police posted. 

We all waited 16 years 9 months 5 days (52,70,40,000 seconds) for India to win another #T20WorldCup

Let’s be a little patient at traffic signals too. Good moments are worth the wait. What say?

Hearty congratulations, #TeamIndia #INDvsSA#INDvSA

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) June 29, 2024

The UP Police showcased their sense of humour with a tweet that likened the Indian bowlers’ performance to a criminal act – albeit a much-loved one. 

“Breaking News: Indian bowlers found guilty of breaking South African hearts. Sentence: Lifelong love from a billion fans! #INDvSAFinal #T20WorldCupFinal,” the UP Police wrote.

: Indian bowlers found guilty of breaking South African hearts.

: Lifelong love from a billion fans! #INDvSAFinal#T20WorldCupFinalpic.twitter.com/UPaCzgf6vm

— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) June 29, 2024

Mumbai Traffic Police joined in the celebration by sharing a photo of Rohit Sharma in a car with the number plate reading “IND 29 June 2024”.

“The Dream Come True Number Plate! #UnStoppables #IndVsSA #WorldChampions,” the Mumbai Traffic Police captioned the photo. 

The Dream Come True Number Plate!#UnStoppables#IndVsSA#WorldChampionspic.twitter.com/xMHfQjsnCc

— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) June 29, 2024

The final match was not just about the victory but also about the end of an era. Two of Indian cricket’s all-time greats, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, announced their retirement from T20 Internationals. Mr Kohli, who was adjudged the player of the match for his sublime 76, was the first to declare his decision. Soon after, Rohit announced his retirement, stating that having achieved what he came for, it was time to step aside.

Celebrations erupted across India as fans took to the streets to rejoice in the historic win. In cities like Jammu, Hyderabad, Patna, and Pune, people were seen hugging, dancing, and waving the tricolour. Chants of ‘India, India’ filled the air as millions celebrated the end of a 13-year wait for a world title.

T20 World Cup 2024 final: India lifts second T20 WC title after 17 years

The long wait is over. India is world champion again .In a classic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final sure to be remembered for years to come, India made history with a nail-biting seven-run win over South Africa .And with it came the celebrations. There was an undeniable sense of relief as well, as India finally managed to cross the final hurdle after two heartbreaking falls in just the last year.

Fresh date for NEET-PG to be announced within two days, says Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan said that the new schedule for NEET-PG will be announced by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in the next two days. Mr. Pradhan was speaking in Panchkula, Haryana ahead of a BJP event where Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed party workers. The NEET-PG exams were cancelled last week because of the controversy raging over the question paper leak in NEET-UG.

‘Absent’ officer suspended in Kashmir for ‘sabotaging’ Amarnath yatra

A local officer was suspended in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on allegations of “sabotaging” the Amarnath yatra by remaining absent from duty. Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, in an order, suspended Pahalgam Naib Tehsildar Ovais Amir for “leaving the station without permission and sabotaging the ongoing Amarnath yatra”. A Sub-Divisional Magistrate-level officer was appointed to “enquire into the matter of noncompliance of the Naib Tehsildar”. “The suspended officer shall remain attached with his office during the period of his suspension,” the order reads.

Virat Kohli announces T20I retirement after India’s World Cup win over South Africa

Star batter Virat Kohli on Saturday announced his retirement from T20 Internationals after guiding India to their second T20 World Cup win here .Kohli anchored the innings with a match-winning 59-ball 76 with two sixes and six fours to lift India from a precarious 34 for three inside the powerplay, to a formidable 176 for seven, cornerstone of India’s 7-run victory over South Africa. Kohli said after collecting the Man of the Match award that it was his las T20I match for India.

Airport canopy collapse: victim’s family considers legal action

The family of a 45-year-old cab driver, who died after a portion of a canopy at Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed amid heavy rainfall, said they are planning to file a case against those responsible for the incident. On Friday, six persons had sustained injuries while Ramesh Kumar was killed. He was cremated at the Naharpur crematorium on Saturday. The victim’s son, Ravinder, said, “Criminal negligence is what killed him. Now even airports aren’t safe. My father was at the airport after dropping a person. He was a hardworking man, who ensured there was enough for the family, but this kind of infrastructure at the airport killed him.”

Days after restricting bar association, J&K High Court recognises new lawyers’ body in Kashmir

The J&K and Ladakh High Court on Saturday recognised a new lawyers’ body in Kashmir, the Kashmir Advocates Association (KAA), by exercising powers under Section 58 of the Bar Council, which was extended to J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 .The move came days after the District Magistrate, Srinagar, barred the J&K High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA), a lawyers’ body active for several decades, from holding any elections, citing their “anti-national and pro-secessionist” ideology. The order also highlighted the JKHCBA’s history of “providing free legal aid to anti-nationals”.

Parliament discussion on NEET would “expose” BJP’s links with those involved in exam irregularities, alleges Congress

The Congress on Saturday alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government is not keen on allowing a parliamentary debate on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical college admissions as it will “expose” the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) links with those involved in the alleged NEET paper leak scam .At a press conference, Gujarat Congress chief and Rajya Sabha member Shaktisinh Gohil claimed that one of the key accused, Arif Vohra, who has now been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is an office-bearer of the BJP.

NTA’s plan to add more online exam centres languishes in cold storage

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which is under scrutiny for multiple question paper leak controversies, failed to amp up its infrastructure for conducting tests in online mode in 2024, as its tender to multiply testing centres failed to take off, The Hindu has learnt. The NTA had floated a tender in January this year, in order to increase its capacity of computer labs, which could house ‘nodes’, or seating spaces for candidates, in as many as 378 cities. “The work has not progressed as the tenders haven’t been finalised,” a top NTA official told The Hindu.

SP’s Awadhesh Prasad could be Opposition’s Deputy Speaker candidate

The Opposition is likely to field Faizabad MP and Samajwadi Party leader Awadhesh Prasad, for the post of Deputy Speaker. Learning from their experience during the Speaker’s election, where differences between Congress and Trinamool Congress came to the fore, the Opposition has decided to present a united front to force a contest for the position .Though constitutionally mandated, the 17th Lok Sabha functioned without a Deputy Speaker. Besides speculation, there has been no formal indication from the government that the position will be filled in the 18th Lok Sabha either.

Yogi government refutes Union Minister’s allegation of bias against OBCs, SCs, STs in State jobs

Days after Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel alleged bias against applicants from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government jobs in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath-led State government sent a detailed reply to Ms. Patel, explaining that quota posts remaining vacant after the selection process could not be converted to unreserved posts, as claimed by her .Ms. Patel is the national president of the Apna Dal (Soneylal), an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in U.P.

Supply chain issues delay deliveries of LCA-Mk1A jets

After some delay, the deliveries of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the Indian Air Force (IAF) are now expected to begin by end of July with officials stating that the delay is due to supply chain issues, including at HAL and General Electric (GE) in delivering the engines. One jet is now expected to be handed over to IAF by end of July, two officials independently confirmed.

BJP demands CBI probe into alleged assault of minority woman leader in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Agnimitra Paul on June 29 demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged assault of a female leader of the BJP’s Minority Morcha in post-poll violence in the State. She said a team from the National Commission for Women (NCW) will arrive at Cooch Behar later in the day to assess the situation.

Endemic dengue may have helped stem severity of early COVID wave in India: study

Can the dengue virus beat the coronavirus and is it why the early wave of the pandemic in 2020 resulted in fewer COVID deaths or severe infections compared to Europe or North America where dengue is not endemic? Research from the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata hints at these intriguing possibilities following an analysis of antibodies from people infected with dengue and testing them against a kind of coronavirus called murine hepatitis virus (mouse coronavirus). In research settings, this virus — being part of the same family of human coronaviruses — is considered a good surrogate to study the behaviour of the coronavirus strains that infected people during the pandemic..

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian Cricket Team for bringing the ICC T20 World Cup “home in style”. India beat South Africa in the final by 7 runs. Rohit Sharma and company brought an ICC trophy home after 11 years and India’s first World Cup win since 2011.

CHAMPIONS!

Our team brings the T20 World Cup home in STYLE!

We are proud of the Indian Cricket Team.

This match was HISTORIC. pic.twitter.com/HhaKGwwEDt

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 29, 2024

“Champions! Our team brings the T20 World Cup home in style! We are proud of the Indian Cricket Team,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X.

In a video message congratulating the team, PM Modi said the team won the World Cup and also the “hearts of crores of Indians”. No small achievement that it did not lose a single match, he said.

“Congratulations to India for this magnificent win. Today, 140 crore countrymen are proud of your fantastic performance. You won the World Cup and also the hearts of crores of Indians. You didn’t lose even one match; that’s not a small feat. You have achieved a spectacular victory. I congratulate you,” the prime minister said in Hindi.

President Droupadi Murmu also congratulated the Indian team and commended their “never-say-die” spirit. “My heartiest congratulations to Team India for winning the T20 World Cup. With the never-say-die spirit, the team sailed through difficult situations and demonstrated outstanding skills throughout the tournament. It was an extraordinary victory in the final match. Well done, Team India! We are proud of you!,” she said in a post on X.

Congratulations to Team India on a spectacular World Cup Victory and a phenomenal performance throughout the tournament!

Surya, what a brilliant catch! Rohit, this win is a testament to your leadership. Rahul, I know team India will miss your guidance.

The spectacular Men in… pic.twitter.com/lkYlu33egb

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 29, 2024

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi praised team captain Rohit Sharma’s leadership. “Congratulations to Team India on a spectacular World Cup Victory and a phenomenal performance throughout the tournament! Surya, what a brilliant catch! Rohit, this win is a testament to your leadership. Rahul, I know team India will miss your guidance. The spectacular Men in Blue have made our country proud,” he said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also shared a message congratulating the team. “What a match! What a catch!”, India ended its 11-year-long ICC trophy drought, winning their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013. Congratulations Team India. What a match! What a catch!,” he posted on X.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also shared messages congratulating the Men In Blue.

Hurrah ! शानदार टीम इंडिया !

भारत ने T-20 वर्ल्ड कप जीतकर इतिहास रच दिया है। यह पूरे देश के लिए बहुत खुशी का मौका है।

सभी देशवासियों और हमारे सभी खिलाड़ियों को बहुत-बहुत बधाई।#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/YipI67mOh0

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 29, 2024

In a nail-biting final, Team India won the #T20WorldCup after 17 years!

Many Congratulations to the Men in Blue for their impressive display of talent and dedication. Virat Kohli, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh shone through the match. Every Indian is proud of this incredible… pic.twitter.com/lXI8eZFL2n

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 29, 2024

It was India’s second T20 World Cup victory after they had won it in 2007 under the legendary MS Dhoni in South Africa, and first since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.

Star batter Virat Kohli, who was an upcoming cricketer 17 years ago, made his first fifty of this tournament in the final — a classy 76 off 59 balls with six fours and two sixes that carried India to a competitive 176 for seven.

Then the Indian bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh (2/20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18), worked their magic as they did throughout this tournament, limiting South Africa to 169 for eight to propel India to their second T20 World Cup.

There were pockets of fight from the Proteas, who were playing in their maiden World Cup final.

Heinrich Klaasen threatened India with a 52 off 27 balls (2×4, 5×6) but Hardik Pandya (3/20) snatched the crucial wicket to bring the game decisively in favour of India.