Following India’s ICC T20 World Cup title win, star batter Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on Rohit Sharma, highlighting how the 37-year-old taught the entire team to stay calm under pressure.
The Men in Blue clinched the prestigious T20 WC trophy for the second time, defeating South Africa by seven runs in Barbados on Saturday. Rohit announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game after the triumphant final.
“He has taught us all how to stay calm under pressure while he himself stayed calm right through. He told us not to think too far ahead of ourselves. We even had a motto: ‘Keep your mind where your feet are.’ Rohit gave us this and it meant we shouldn’t think about the Super 8, semi-final, or final. We needed to take things one step at a time. He showed us how to bat in this format and after the 2023 World Cup where he batted brilliantly, he did so once again. The truth is if I start speaking about Rohit I will need days, if not weeks, to do so,” Suryakumar told RevSportz.
Suryakumar was one of the standout players for India during the World Cup, contributing 199 runs in eight games at an average of 28.42, with two half-centuries and several crucial performances in tough matches. His contribution also included some stunning catches throughout the tournament.
In the final over of the championship match, David Miller, known for his clutch performances for the Proteas, attempted a big shot needing 16 runs from six balls. Suryakumar Yadav made a remarkable boundary catch, which was pivotal in turning the match in India’s favor, dismissing Miller for 21 runs and securing India’s second ICC T20 World Cup title.
Rohit Sharma scored 257 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 156.7, including three fifties. His consistent performance and leadership embraced India’s new approach in T20Is and set an example with his brilliant ball striking.
In the final, India won the toss and opted to bat first. Reduced to 34/3, a counter-attacking partnership between Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47 off 31 balls) restored India’s position. A 57-run stand between Kohli and Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls) took India to 176/7 in their 20 overs. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (2/23) and Anrich Nortje (2/26) were the top bowlers.
In their run chase of 177, South Africa was reduced to 12/2 but a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (39 off 31 balls) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21 balls) brought them back into the game. Heinrich Klaasen’s half-century (52 off 27 balls) threatened to take the game away, but fine death-over bowling from Arshdeep Singh (2/18), Jasprit Bumrah (2/20), and Hardik Pandya (3/20) restricted South Africa to 169/8.
Virat Kohli was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his performance, and India ended their nearly 11-year ICC title drought with this victory.
