New Delhi, Dec 29 (NationPress) Former Indian left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan praised Suryakumar Yadav for his remarkable awareness while reflecting on the catch that dismissed David Miller in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup final, asserting that India could have lost the trophy had he let it slip.

In the critical final over, Suryakumar executed a relay catch at long-off to send Miller back to the pavilion, a pivotal moment that secured India a seven-run victory over South Africa and broke a long-standing trophy drought in Barbados.

“A knee-high full toss to a batter like David Miller is generally a six. However, Suryakumar Yadav's presence of mind was extraordinary. It wasn’t merely a catch; it was the World Cup. The World Cup was within his grasp. Had he dropped it, the World Cup would have slipped away as well,” said Pathan during the 'Rise of Champions' segment on JioStar.

India's selection strategy for the tournament initially faced criticism from former cricketer Aakash Chopra, who questioned the inclusion of multiple spinners in the lineup. “There were certainly discussions about that squad, particularly regarding the number of spinners. It appeared to be a flawed strategy. I was among those who sensed something was amiss. It didn’t align with our expectations,” he mentioned.

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody noted that the increasing depth of talent in Indian cricket presents a delightful yet challenging dilemma. “A significant issue for Indian cricket is having too much talent. There are simply too many choices. It’s a fantastic problem to have, but it complicates matters for selectors or captains,” he remarked.

Former New Zealand player Danny Morrison expressed concerns that the pitch conditions in New York during the clash against Pakistan could have been detrimental to India. “Playing on that pitch was risky. The ball was moving unpredictably, and it could have ended badly for India; it was a gamble,” he stated.

Pathan also pointed out wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s crucial performance against Pakistan. “Rishabh Pant scored about 40 runs at a strike rate of 135. In contrast, none of the other seven batters reached a strike rate of 100. We needed someone to take more risks and play more boldly,” he added.

England's 2019 World Cup-winning captain, Eoin Morgan, emphasized the significance of bowling in securing tournament victories. “In white-ball cricket, it's the bowling attacks that win you championships. When you can defend low scores, it instills confidence within the team, allowing them to believe they can win from any situation. That belief becomes a formidable threat in a World Cup,” he said.

On captain Rohit Sharma's aggressive innings during the Super Eight match against Australia, Chopra remarked, “Rohit Sharma committed to playing a different, more aggressive style of cricket. Now that we’ve defeated Australia, we feel no pressure. We can genuinely aim for the trophy, regardless of the opposition. However, the lessons from 2023 remind us to stay vigilant.”

Morgan added his perspective, saying, “From an Indian viewpoint, the strategy they established leading into that game was straightforward to replicate due to their confidence. They had faith in their game plan.”