Exactly a year after India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in Barbados, captain Rohit Sharma has spoken out on the emotional journey that up to the country’s historic victory over South Africa.
On June 29, 2024, the Men in Blue broke an 11-year ICC trophy drought with a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The victorious skipper discussed his uneasiness and pressure leading up to the final, stating that he couldn’t sleep the night before.
Thirteen years is a long time. Most people do not even have 13-year careers. After waiting so long to win a World Cup, my most recent victory came in 2007. For me, it couldn’t have gotten any bigger. I didn’t sleep all night. I was simply thinking of the World Cup. I was nervous. I could not feel my legs. Did I feel nervous? Of course. I just don’t display it, although there was a lot within. We were expected to leave at 8:30 or 9 a.m.
But I awoke at 7. I could see the ground from my room and continued to observe it. I recall thinking, “In two hours, I’ll be there.” In four hours, the results will be available. “The Cup will either be here or not,” Rohit remarked exclusively on JioHotstar’s special show “Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se.”
The 38-year-old was under enormous pressure going into the final, having led India to a ten-match winning streak in the 2023 ODI World Cup, only to lose in the final to Australia. Notably, this was India’s first ICC victory since the 2011 ODI World Cup, and Rohit’s first as captain. He had previously been a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team in his maiden season. The Nagpur native led from the front throughout the tournament, finishing as the team’s second-highest run-scorer with 257 runs and a strike rate of more than 155.
It was the moment of the game: Rohit Sharma
South Africa’s chase in the final was powered by Heinrich Klaasen’s 23-ball fifty, which included a 24-run over from Axar Patel. With only 30 runs needed from the final five overs and big hitters like David Miller still at the crease, the Proteas aimed to spoil India’s party. But Suryakumar Yadav, who was positioned at long-off, made a superb relay catch at the boundary line to eliminate Miller and put the team back in the game.
“Surya was at long-off, and that catch was the highlight of the match. Even after he took it, the umpires checked to see if he had touched the rope. Everyone had their hearts in their mouths. I was looking on as it happened. It looked like a six until Surya flew in and took the blinder. I guess the wind helped draw the ball back slightly. I was standing by him during the inspection.
I asked him, and he answered, ‘I think I’ve got it.’ The zoom camera indicated that the rope did not move, as it usually does when touched. That brought us some relief. But until it appears on the big screen, you don’t know what the third umpire will decide,” Rohit added.
Meanwhile, following the triumph, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20Is. Kohli, who earned Player of the Match in the final, and Rohit finished the format on a high note.
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