New Delhi: Suryakumar Yadav felt like the T20 World Cup 2024 was going to the opposition as the India batter reflected on his match-winning catch against South Africa on Saturday in the final in Barbados. Needing 16 runs from the final over, David Miller lofted a full toss from Hardik Pandya for a huge six over the long-off fence. Initially the ball appeared to go for a six but it didn’t much elevation and Suryakumar’s presence of mind turned it into a spectacular effort that turned the tide into India’s favour.
Suryakumar admitted that initially, it seemed that the ‘trophy was sailing over the boundary line’ and into South Africa’s hands. The star batter said he was trying to control the things in his hand while claiming the catch and wind also favoured him. He also revealed that they have been practicing taking such kinds of catches during the training sessions.
“Now it’s easy to say. But at that time, it felt like a trophy was sailing over the boundary to the other side. But yeah, in that moment, you don’t think the ball will cross the boundary line and go for six. Whatever was in my control, I tried it. And wind was also a good factor at that moment and helped me a little bit,” Suryakumar said after the game.
“And we have done a lot of practice sessions with our fielding coach and taken a lot of catches like this. So when it comes to a game like this, our presence of mind is very important,” he added. Suryakumar also revealed that there was a moment when the team was feeling that the game was slipping away from them into South Africa’s favour. However, he believed in Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh’s abilities to turn the tables in India’s favour.
“I feel this is a funny game. It’s a fantastic leveller and the game isn’t finished till the last ball is bowled. It was, I will not lie. At some moment we felt there is gap between our victory and their win. But back of the mind, you remind yourself all the hard work you have put in the last 2 months and 2 years, post 2022 T20 World Cup,” he said.
“All that was running in my mind in the last 5 to 6 overs of the game. We had Bumrah’s 2 overs and Arshdeep’s 1 and they were at the top of their game. So I had a belief that these guys can turn the game around,” said Suryakumar. After the game the Mumbaikar won the ‘Best Fielder’ medal for his marvelous effort that earned the victory in the biggest game for his side.
India ultimately won the match by 7 runs to become T20 World Cup champions for the second time.
