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Team India captain Rohit Sharma has opened up on a strategic move by keeper-batter Rishabh Pant at a crucial point in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Rohit opined that Pant's presence of mind played a role in disrupting the Proteas batters' rhythm.
Rohit-led India beat South Africa by seven runs in the thrilling finale of the 2024 T20 World Cup at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Proteas needed only 30 runs off the last five overs, when there was a short break during which Pant swung into action.
During his appearance on The Kapil Sharma show, along with Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube, Rohit revisited Pant's strategic move that had an impact on the game. The 37-year-old said (as quoted by India Today):
"They had a lot of wickets left and set batters were on the group. We were feeling the tension, we were scared as well, but a captain needs to have a strong face at that moment. No one knows this but when 30 were needed in 30 [26 in 24], there was a small break. Rishabh Pant used his brains and stopped the game, saying he has a niggle in his knee and started taping it," Rohit said.
"At that moment, the batter wants the ball to be bowled quickly because he is in flow. We needed to break the rhythm. I was setting the field, talking to the bowler and then I saw Pant on the ground, the physio was there and [Heinrich] Klaasen was waiting for resumption. I'm not saying that was the reason for the win, but it could be. Pant used his brains and we won," India's captain in the 2024 T20 World Cup added.
South Africa lost Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) at the start of the 17th over. The right-handed batter had a loose waft at a delivery outside off from Hardik Pandya and was caught behind with Pant completing the catch. The Proteas lost their way after Klaasen's dismissal.
Chasing 177, they were restricted to 169-8 as Pandya claimed 3-20, while Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets each. Earlier, Virat Kohli top-scored for India with 76 off 59 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes.
How Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant performed in the 2024 T20 World Cup
Rohit led the front for the Men in Blue in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He finished as the second-leading run-getter in the ICC event, hammering 257 runs in eight innings at an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.71. The opening batter clobbered a brilliant 92 off 41 against Australia in the Super 8 match in St Lucia.
Pant, making a comeback to international cricket after recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident, had a mixed tournament. He scored 171 runs in eight innings at an average of 24.43 and a strike rate of 127.61. The southpaw was dismissed for a duck in the final.
