India defeated South Africa in one of the most exciting encounters in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados. The match, which went right down to the last over, saw Suryakumar Yadav taking an amazing catch near the boundary to dismiss dangerous David Miller and seal the deal for India.

Thanks to 76 from Virat Kohli and 47 from Axar Patel, India posted 176/7 in 20 overs in the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29, 2024. Despite a few early wickets, South Africa were crushing thanks to 31 by Tristan Stubbs and a brutal 27-ball 52 by Heinrich Klaasen.

However, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowled amazingly in the 18th and 19th overs, leaving South Africa 16 runs to get in the final over, which was bowled by Hardik Pandya.

Pandya bowled a wide full toss to Miller, who hammered it towards the long-off boundary. As the ball seemed to sail over the boundary ropes, Suryakumar Yadav leaped to take an amazing catch, which he completed after crossing the ropes and coming back into the field of play.

This wicket helped India control the final over and win the final by 7 runs, lifting their second T20 World Cup trophy and first ICC trophy since 2013.

Suryakumar Yadav’s catch was a controversial one, as the TV umpire had to see multiple replays from different angles to give his decision. The catch also sparked a heated debate, with replays revealing that the boundary rope where the ball was hit was pulled back slightly.  

Now former India batter Ambati Rayudu has made a huge revelation about the boundary ropes. Rayudu, one of the match's commentators, has explained what transpired before the catch was taken.

Rayudu added that the official broadcaster’s globe feed crew had placed a chair and a screen in the same location to assist the broadcasters. When the chair was situated, the team pushed the boundary rope back slightly. However, even when the chair and screen were removed, the rope was not returned to its previous position.

"There were world feed commentators. During the break, what usually happens is they put a chair there and a screen in order to help the broadcasters see what is happening. That is why they pushed the rope backwards a little bit. But, they left it like that (even after taking the screen and the chair away). That is how the boundary became a little bigger for us. We (the commentators) could see it from above. It was God's plan," said Rayudu on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast.

When asked if it was a six, Rayudu said, "I don't know if it was a six (in natural circumstances) or not. If the rope had been placed at its normal position, maybe Surya would've run from inside."

On the controversy around the catch, Rayudu maintained that it was a "clean catch."

"End of the day, God was with us," he concluded.