Rohit Sharma Details 'Heart-in-Mouth' Moment of Suryakumar Yadav's Crucial Catch in T20 World Cup Final

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has reflected on the nail-biting moments of their T20 World Cup victory against South Africa in Barbados, pinpointing Suryakumar Yadav's spectacular catch to dismiss David Miller as the turning point of the final.

Speaking in an interview, Sharma described the palpable tension surrounding Yadav's game-changing catch. "Surya was positioned at long-off, and that catch – honestly, it was the moment of the match. Even after he completed the catch, the umpires meticulously checked whether he had touched the boundary rope. Everyone's heart was in their mouth. I was stationed at long-on, watching the drama unfold. Initially, it appeared to be a six, but then Surya intervened, flying through the air and taking an absolute blinder. The wind was blowing inwards, which I believe helped pull the ball back just enough."

"I was standing right next to him during the review process. I inquired, and he confidently stated, 'I think I've caught it.' The zoom camera confirmed that the rope remained stationary, which is usually not the case if it's touched. That provided us with some relief. However, the uncertainty lingered until the final verdict flashed on the big screen," Sharma revealed.

The victory marked a memorable conclusion to coach Rahul Dravid's tenure, who had initially considered resigning after the 2023 ODI World Cup setback.

"Rahul considered stepping down after the 2023 World Cup. However, we convinced him, 'There's another World Cup just six months away. We've come this far together, let's give it one more shot.' He agreed, and I'm incredibly grateful that he did. I'm confident that he now feels he made the right decision," Sharma added.

The captain also shared his personal emotions regarding the triumph. "For me personally, it was profoundly emotional. My journey as a cricketer began with this format in the 2007 T20 World Cup. To complete the circle and lift the trophy once again in 2024 was simply fantastic."

Sharma also shed light on the team's strategic approach in their semi-final victory against England. "Leading up to the semi-final, I felt quietly confident. We had been playing exceptionally well, and everyone was in good form, executing our plans effectively as a team. Of course, the 2022 loss to England was still lingering in the back of our minds, as it should."

"It was a significant defeat, but we learned valuable lessons from it. Between 2022 and 2024, we implemented several changes: our mindset, our preparation, and our approach to crucial moments. This time, we were thoroughly prepared. There was a strong belief, and there was clarity in our objectives."

Key to Victory: Early Wickets

The captain emphasized the importance of taking early wickets in the powerplay overs. "Securing wickets during the powerplay is crucial, as it accomplishes half the task. Against England, it was particularly vital. Both Buttler and Salt are dangerous batsmen, but Buttler is their key player. He's vastly experienced, plays in leagues around the world, and knows our bowlers well."

"We managed to get Buttler's wicket in the third over, and Salt's in the following over. Once that occurred, we knew we were halfway to victory. Subsequently, the game slowed down. We introduced the spinners – Kuldeep, Axar, and Jadeja – and they bowled beautifully. The pitch was assisting spin, and the strategy was to utilize the slower bowlers as early as possible," Sharma concluded.