Sharma Details 'Heart-in-Mouth' Moment as Yadav's Gravity-Defying Catch Fuels India's T20 World Cup Run

Rohit Sharma Recalls Heart-Stopping Moment of Suryakumar Yadav's Catch Against South Africa

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has opened up about a pivotal moment during their T20 World Cup victory against South Africa in Barbados. He specifically highlighted Suryakumar Yadav's stunning catch at long-off, which dismissed David Miller, as a game-changing play.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Rohit Sharma described the palpable tension surrounding Suryakumar's crucial catch. "Surya was positioned at long-off, and that catch was truly the moment that defined the match. Even after he secured it, the umpires meticulously checked to ensure he hadn't touched the boundary rope. Everyone's heart was in their mouth. I was stationed at long-on, watching the entire sequence unfold. Initially, it appeared destined to be a six, until Surya intervened with an extraordinary grab. The prevailing wind conditions seemed to assist in pulling the ball back slightly."

Sharma recounted the moments after the catch, saying, "I stood beside him as the umpires reviewed the play. When I inquired, he confidently affirmed, 'I believe I've caught it cleanly.' The zoom camera confirmed that the rope remained undisturbed, a telltale sign of a clean catch. That provided some reassurance. However, uncertainty lingered until the final verdict flashed on the big screen."

The victory also marked a significant milestone in Rahul Dravid's coaching career. Dravid had contemplated resigning after the disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup.

"Rahul bhai considered stepping down following the 2023 World Cup," Rohit revealed. "However, we collectively urged him to stay on, emphasizing the proximity of another World Cup in just six months. We had progressed significantly and encouraged him to seize one more opportunity. He concurred, and I firmly believe he now acknowledges the wisdom of that decision."

Rohit Sharma further shared his personal connection to the victory. "Personally, it was an emotional moment. My journey as a cricketer commenced with this format back in the 2007 T20 World Cup. To complete the circle and lift the trophy once again in 2024 was an indescribable feeling."

Reflecting on their semi-final triumph against England in Guyana, Sharma discussed their strategic approach. "Leading up to this semi-final, I was quietly optimistic. Our performance had been consistently strong in the preceding matches, with every player displaying excellent form. As a team, we were executing our plans flawlessly. Naturally, the memory of our defeat against England in 2022 lingered—as it should."

He added, "It was a crushing defeat. However, we extracted valuable lessons from that experience. Between 2022 and 2024, we implemented significant changes in our mindset, preparation, and approach to crucial moments. This time, we were thoroughly prepared, brimming with confidence and clarity regarding our objectives."

The captain emphasized the critical role of early wickets in the powerplay overs. "Securing early wickets in the powerplay is paramount, as it accomplishes a significant portion of the task. Against England, this was particularly crucial. Both Buttler and Salt are formidable batsmen, but Buttler is their linchpin. He possesses extensive experience, having played globally, and possesses a deep understanding of our bowlers, particularly Axar, Kuldeep, and Bumrah. Therefore, dismissing him early was of utmost importance."

Sharma elaborated, "We managed to dismiss him in the third over, followed by Salt in the subsequent over. At that point, we were confident that we had gained a significant advantage. Subsequently, the game's tempo slowed down. We introduced our spinners—Kuldeep, Axar, and Jaddu—who bowled exceptionally well. The pitch favored spin, and our strategy was to introduce the slower bowlers as early as possible," Rohit concluded.