Sharma Hails Yadav's 'Moment of the Match' Catch in T20 World Cup Win; Credits Dravid's Extended Tenure

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

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has opened up about the defining moments of their T20 World Cup victory against South Africa in Barbados last year. He specifically highlighted Suryakumar Yadav's spectacular catch at long-off, which led to the dismissal of David Miller.

Sharma described the tension surrounding the catch during an interview with JioHotstar. "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."

He further elaborated on the moments after 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 shared.

The victory also marked the end of coach Rahul Dravid's tenure on a high note. Dravid had considered stepping down after the 2023 ODI World Cup.

"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," Rohit revealed.

Sharma also expressed his personal connection to the victory. "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."

Reflecting on the semi-final victory against England in Guyana, Sharma discussed the team's strategy. "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 added, "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."

Key to victory: Early wickets

The captain emphasized the importance of securing early wickets during the powerplay overs. "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."

"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," Rohit concluded.