New Delhi: Revisiting India’s T20 World Cup triumph under his captaincy, Rohit Sharma has revealed he was a bundle of nerves, didn’t sleep the whole night, and “couldn’t feel my legs” before the big final against South Africa.
Sunday marked the first anniversary of the memorable win in Barbados that broke 13 years of World Cup title drought for India.
“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,” Rohit reminisced while speaking to JioHotstar.
From 30 runs required in 30 balls at one stage, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya pulled things back for India, leaving the Proteas needing 16 runs off the last over. On the first ball, a full-toss from Pandya, Miller lofted over long-off. Suryakumar came running in sideways, stretched his hands to catch it, and lobbed it back in the air as his momentum took him past the ropes, before coming back and grabbing it again.
“Surya was at long-off and that catch—honestly, it was the moment of the match,” Rohit said on JioHotstar. “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,” he added.
It was a sensational take under pressure, leaving South Africa with just tailenders who submitted to a seven-run loss.
Rohit also remembered how Rahul Dravid wanted to step down as head coach after the 2023 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.”
“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,” he added.
