Follow UsThe wait is over! India have finally won an ICC event after 11 years, and unlike some of the other Indian players, skipper Rohit Sharma wasn’t short of words. It was under his leadership India lost the 2023 ODI World Cup final after remaining unbeaten throughout the campaign. The Men in Blue once again walked into the 2024 T20 World Cup final unbeaten, but they managed to go one step further and lifted the trophy in Barbados on June 29 (Saturday).
“Very hard to sum up what we have been through in the last 3-4 years. To be honest, we worked very hard as individuals and as a team, a lot has gone on behind the scenes for us to be here today and win this game. It is not what we did today, it is what we have been doing for the last 3-4 years. That's the result that has come for us today,” said Rohit after defeating South Africa by seven runs in the grand finale.
“We have played lots of high pressure games in the past as well and have been on the wrong side as well. But the guys understand what needs to be done. Today was the perfect example of when the back is against the wall, what is required. We stuck together as a team and the guys, all of us, even when at one point it was looking South Africa's way.
“Overall, as a team, as a group on the field, we wanted this really bad. We wanted to win this. To win a tournament like this, a lot goes behind the scenes, a lot of effort, a lot of minds need to come together. I am very proud of this bunch of boys I have and the management as well for giving us that liberty to go and play to execute, for having that trust in each one of us.”
Opting to bat, India lost three wickets with 34 runs on the board but that’s when Virat Kohli (59-ball 76) and Axar Patel (31-ball 47) stepped up and put on 72 runs for the fourth wicket. Shivam Dube (16-ball 27) also played an important cameo, however, it was Kohli who was named Player of the Match. The right-hander had scored just 75 runs in the competition coming into this game but delivered when it mattered the most.
“Not me and nobody was in doubt with Virat's form. We know the quality he has, he's been on top of his game for 15 years, come the occasion the big players will stand up. Virat was holding that one end which was very crucial for us and the others played around him. For us to get to that total, it was a team effort. We wanted someone to bat as long as possible.
“These are not wickets where you can come and bat freely and keep the scoreboard ticking straightaway, so we do understand that. We wanted somebody to bat as long as possible and Virat did that perfectly. That's where the experience of Virat comes through. The other guys around played really well, Axar's knock of 47 was very crucial as well.”
South Africa needed 30 off 30 deliveries, with six wickets remaining. Rohit and his men looked down and out, but then came Jasprit Bumrah and the ace paceman turned the game on its head. Bumrah gave four runs in the 16th over before Hardik Pandya did the same in the next over, including the game-changing wicket of Heinrich Klaasen (27-ball 52). Bumrah then bowled the next over and dismissed Marco Jansen. Just two runs from the over, and then Arshdeep Singh and Hardik closed the game for India.
Speaking about Bumrah, Rohit said: “I can understand you guys trying to put it into words but I've been someone who has seen him for so many years, even playing alongside him, but even I don't know what exactly is with him. I know exactly what he brings to the table but how he does that, it is just a masterclass.
“He backs his skills which is more than enough and he is a very confident lad. Whatever he wants to do, he executes to perfection which is a very rare sight. Jasprit Bumrah, to put it in one word, he's a class act. Hardik was brilliant as well, bowling that last over, no matter how many runs is required, to bowl that last over, I am very proud of the boys.”
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