Suryakumar Yadav’s catch to dismiss David Miller was one of the highlights of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 final win over South Africa in Barbados last month.
In the title clash, India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was tasked to defend 16 runs in the final over. Hardik’s first delivery was a low full toss, and Miller lofted it straight down the ground to give mini-heartbreak to the Indian fans.
However, Suryakumar held his nerves and grabbed an incredible catch inches away from the boundary line at long-off. Just when the momentum was taking him beyond the ropes, Surya showed remarkable presence of mind as he released the ball before coming back to complete the catch.
Nealy a month later, former India head coach and renowned commentator Ravi Shastri reflected on Suryakumar Yadav’s World Cup-winning catch against South Africa.
“Oh Surya. It was under my nose, so I got a better view than anybody else. Because, I had the monitor in front of me and I was tall enough to just peek over to clear anything. Because that helped my commentary as well, Ian (Smith) was calling it, he said it and I said ‘When it went up, on the replay David Miller will not like what he sees because that catch is clean’,” Ravi Shastri told the ICC.
“So come what may, whatever people say, to hell with that, that was clean, nothing moved and I saw it with my eyes from 20 feet upstairs and then I saw it on the monitor as well. I think that was a game-changer because you know what David (Miller) can do. If that had gone for six, then suddenly it comes down to nine (10) to win. Another big shot and then the game’s in the balance. So I thought the timing couldn’t have been better,” he added.
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After the T20 World Cup triumph, Rohit Sharma retired from the T20Is and the selectors appointed Suryakumar Yadav as India’s full-time captain in the shortest format.
In his maiden assignment, Suryakumar led India to 3-0 win over Sri Lanka in an away T20I series.
