Rohit Sharma jokingly said he would have dropped Suryakumar Yadav from the India playing XI if Yadav had dropped the crucial catch of David Miller during the T20 World Cup 2024 final. In the final over of the match, with South Africa needing 16 runs off 6 balls, Yadav took a remarkable catch at long-off to dismiss Miller, South Africa’s last recognized batter. This catch prevented a potential match-winning six and sealed the game for India.
On Friday, the members of India’s T20 World Cup-winning team – including captain Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, all-rounder Shivam Dube, and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey were felicitated by the Maharashtra government at a ceremony in Mumbai. Following the ceremony, the same group met with the Maharashtra Chief Minister at his residence.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde gave Lord Ganesha statues and shawls to the Indian team’s winning players. Subsequently, Rohit began expressing thoughts in an assembly. The Indian captain stated that if Suryakumar Yadav had not held on to David Miller’s catch, he would have sacked him from the squad.
CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and the other ministers could not control their laughter. Rohit also joined in with a hearty, wholehearted laugh following his own remark.
Rohit, speaking in Marathi, said, “Suryakumar Yadav told me the ball landed in his hands, and it’s good that it did.” After a brief pause, Rohit added, “Otherwise, I would have been dropped from the team.”
Rohit may have remarked in sarcasm, but it highlighted the importance of the catch Surya took. With South Africa needing 16 runs off the final over, David Miller, their last recognized batter, got a full toss from Hardik Pandya. The left-hander swatted the delivery, sending it toward long-off where Surya was stationed.
For a moment, it seemed the breeze might carry the ball over the ropes, but Surya positioned himself well and took the catch. However, the momentum carried his body over the boundary. Showing quick thinking, Surya tossed the ball back into play before stepping outside the field, then reentered to complete the catch.