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.
The Men in Blue won the ICC trophy after 11 years of the drought, winning by 7 runs against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 29, 2024. The winning skipper addressed the pre-final jitters and the pressure and told that he was unable to sleep the night before.
“Thirteen years is a long time. Most people don’t even have a 13-year career. So, to wait that long to win a World Cup… the last one I won was in 2007. For me, it couldn’t have gotten any bigger than this. I didn’t sleep the whole night. I was only thinking about the World Cup. I was nervous. I couldn’t feel my legs. Did I feel nervous? Of course. I just don’t show it—but inside, it was a lot. We were supposed to leave around 8:30 or 9 in the morning.
Rohit Sharma
But I woke up at 7. From my room, I could see the ground and just kept watching it. I remember thinking—‘In two hours, I’ll be there. And in four hours, the result will be out. Either the Cup will be here or it won’t,” Rohit said exclusively on JioHotstar’s special show “Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se.”
Rohit Sharma
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 match” – Rohit Sharma picks turning point of T20 World Cup 2024 final
Heinrich Klaasen hit a 23-ball half century (with a 24-run over off Axar Patel) before South Africa set off in the chase, eventually clinching the final with a 23-ball fifty in the finish. The Proteas sought to crash the party with only 30 runs to chase down the target in the remaining five overs and with David Miller, who is a big-hitters still in the middle, a match was possible. The team was roped back into the game by a fantastic relay catch at the boundary line by Suryakumar Yadav namely who was at long-off to send Miller off the field.
“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. 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.”
Rohit Sharma
Meanwhile, in the process, after a win, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja gave retirement in T20Is. Kohli who was the Player of the Match in the final and Rohit had left the format on a high note.
