What Did Rohit Sharma Say About SKY’s Iconic T20 WC Final Catch?

New Delhi, June 29 (NationPress) Rohit Sharma, who led India to triumph in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup with a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in Barbados, reflected on the pivotal moment of the final: Suryakumar Yadav's incredible catch at long-off that dismissed David Miller. For Rohit, this was the defining moment of the title match.

“Surya was stationed at long-off, and that catch—truly, it was the match's decisive moment. Even after he caught it, the umpires were reviewing whether he had touched the boundary. It was a nerve-wracking moment. I was at long-on, witnessing it unfold. It appeared to be a six until Surya leaped and secured that spectacular catch. The wind might have slightly aided in pulling the ball back,” he stated.

“I stood beside him during the review. I asked him, and he replied, ‘I think I’ve caught it.’ The zoom camera indicated the rope remained still—which typically happens if it’s touched. That brought us some relief. However, until the big screen flashed the decision, uncertainty lingered about the third umpire’s ruling,” Rohit shared with JioHotstar.

This victory also marked a fulfilling conclusion to Rahul Dravid's coaching era. Rohit elaborated on how he persuaded Dravid to embark on one last challenge following the disappointment of the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

“Rahul bhai intended to step down post the 2023 World Cup. But we urged, ‘There’s another World Cup in six months. We’ve come this far. Let’s take one more shot.’ He agreed—and I’m thrilled he did. I’m confident he feels it was the correct choice,” he remarked.

“On a personal level, it was emotional for me. My journey as a cricketer began with this format during the 2007 T20 World Cup. To complete the circle and lift the trophy again in 2024—it was simply fantastic,” he added.

Before clinching the emotional final, India experienced another significant moment with a victory over England in the semi-final in Guyana. With the memory of the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss to England still fresh, Rohit recounted how he and the team meticulously planned everything, including their bowling sequence during the power-play.

“As we approached this semi-final, I felt quietly confident. We had played exceptional cricket leading up to this match—everyone was in good form, and we were executing our team objectives flawlessly. Naturally, the 2022 loss to England was in our minds—it should be,” he noted.

“It was a significant defeat. But we learned from it. Between 2022 and 2024, we transformed many aspects: our mindset, preparation, and approach to critical moments. This time, we were thoroughly prepared. There was confidence and clarity in our objectives,” he explained.

“Securing wickets during the power-play was vital—half the battle is won there. Against England, this was particularly crucial. Both Buttler and Salt are formidable threats, but Buttler is their key player. He has extensive experience, plays worldwide, and understands our bowlers well—how to tackle Axar, Kuldeep, and Bumrah. Thus, dismissing him early was essential,” he continued.

“We took his wicket in the third over, followed by Salt in the next. Once that occurred, we felt we were halfway through. The game then slowed down. We introduced the spinners—Kuldeep, Axar, and Jaddu—and they bowled exceptionally well. The surface was conducive to spin, prompting us to utilize our slower bowlers as early as possible,” Rohit concluded.