T20 World Cup final: India beat South Africa by seven runs in thriller

India’s innings was built around Kohli, who had only made two double-figure scores in the tournament.

Here he notched his third within five balls by driving and flicking Jansen for three fours in the first over.

India were flying when Rohit hit the first two balls of the second over for four, but after the captain swept spinner Keshav Maharaj to square leg, the Proteas fought back superbly.

Rishabh Pant chipped up a full toss for a duck and the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav was caught at fine leg but, from 34-3, Kohli was able to play the role he knows best.

He did not hit a boundary between the fourth and 18th overs. Axar Patel, promoted to provide a left-handed option, instead provided the attack with 47, including two fine hits over long-on, in a partnership of 72.

Shivam Dube added impetus with his 16-ball 27 as Kohli’s next support act.

In the 18th over, Kohli cut loose, striking Rabada superbly over long-on, pulling the next ball for four and in the 19th he whipped Jansen on to the roof of the pavilion.

The 50-over World Cup, where Kohli was the tournament’s leading scorer, was supposed to be the white-ball great’s crowning glory.

In the end, it came on the other side of the world eight months later, with Kohli confirming this was his final T20 World Cup appearance.