Sharma Recalls Tense Moment of Yadav's Stunning Catch in T20 World Cup Final

Sharma Reflects on Yadav's Decisive Catch and India's T20 World Cup Triumph

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has opened up about the nail-biting moments of their T20 World Cup victory over South Africa in Barbados last year. He pinpointed Suryakumar Yadav's stunning catch at long-off to dismiss David Miller as the turning point of the final.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Sharma recounted the tense atmosphere surrounding Yadav's catch. "Surya was at long-off, and that catch—honestly, it was the moment of the match. Even after he took it, the umpires were checking if he touched the rope. Everyone's heart was in their mouth. I was at long-on, watching it unfold. It looked like a six—until Surya flew in and took that blinder. With the wind blowing in, I think it helped pull the ball back slightly."

Sharma further elaborated on the scrutiny following the catch. "I was standing next to him during the check. I asked him, and he said, 'I think I've caught it.' The zoom camera showed the rope didn't move—which usually happens if it's touched. That gave us some relief. But until it flashed on the big screen, you don't know what the third umpire's going to decide," Sharma revealed.

The victory also marked a memorable conclusion to coach Rahul Dravid's tenure.

"Rahul bhai wanted to step down after the 2023 World Cup. But we said, 'There's another World Cup in six months. We've come this far. Let's give it one more shot.' He agreed, and I'm so glad he did. I'm sure even now he feels that he made the right decision," Sharma stated.

Reflecting on his personal connection to the victory, Sharma added, "For me personally, it was also emotional. My identity as a cricketer began with this format in the 2007 T20 World Cup. To come full circle and lift the trophy again in 2024, it was just fantastic."

Sharma also discussed the team's strategic approach during their semi-final win against England in Guyana. "Heading into this semi-final, I was quietly confident. We'd played really good cricket leading up to this match and everyone was in form, and we were doing exactly what we had set out to do as a team. Of course, the 2022 loss to England was in the back of our minds—it should be."

He emphasized the lessons learned from past defeats. "It was a heavy defeat. But we learned from that. From 2022 to 2024, we changed a lot of things: our mindset, our preparation, and the way we approached key moments. This time, we were fully prepared. There was belief, and there was clarity in what we wanted to achieve."

The importance of early wickets was another key point. "Taking wickets in the powerplay was crucial as half the job gets done there. And against England, it was especially important. Both Buttler and Salt are dangerous, but Buttler is their key player. He's experienced, plays around the world, and knows our bowlers well and how to play Axar, Kuldeep, and Bumrah. So, getting him early was critical."

Sharma concluded, "We got his wicket in the third over, and Salt in the next. Once that happened, we knew we were halfway there. After that, the game slowed down. We brought on the spinners—Kuldeep, Axar, and Jaddu and they bowled beautifully. The pitch was helping spin, and the idea was to get the slower bowlers on as early as possible."