Team India ended their long-standing ICC trophy drought as they defeated South Africa by seven runs to lift the T20 World Cup 2024 title in Barbados on Saturday (June 29).
Opting to bat first, the Men in Blue posted a stiff total of 176/7 in on the board, courtesy of good knocks from Virat Kohli (76 off 59) and Akshar Patel (47 off 31). Shivam Dube also played a brilliant cameo of 16-ball 27.
Chasing the target, the Proteas had brought the equation down to 30 off 30 deliveries with six wickets in hand thanks to Heinrich Klaasen’s carnage (52 off 27).
However, the Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah (2-18), Hardik Pandya (3-20) and Arshdeep Singh (2-20) held their nerves in the death overs to restrict South Africa to 169/8.
Two days after the triumph, India’s middle-order star Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on Rohit Sharma’s leadership skills. He also revealed Rohit’s comments during the team huddle before the start of the title clash.
“Before the final, he told us to keep it simple but said, ‘I can’t climb this mountain alone. If I have to reach the peak, I will need everyone’s oxygen’. He also said, ‘Joh bhi hai, paon mein, dimag mein, dil mein (whatever you have in your legs, mind, and heart), just bring everything to the game. If that happens, we will not regret the night’. We all were moved,” Suryakumar was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
“I have played so much cricket, be it in the IPL or international cricket, in the past four-five years. He connects with the players. Off the field, be it in a hotel room or on the beach, he connects with everyone. So when a crunch situation comes, players know that he (Rohit) will back us. One feels I have to deliver for this man for the confidence and respect he gives to everyone,” he added.
Suryakumar Yadav failed to make a mark in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, scoring only 3 off 4 deliveries. However, he took one of the most iconic catches in Indian cricket history to dismiss South African swashbuckler David Miller in the last over.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya was tasked to defend 16 runs in the 20th over against South Africa. 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 rope 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.
