Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed that a break in play during the dying moments of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Final proved decisive in India’s victory over South Africa.
For the unversed, India won that match by seven runs, securing their second T20 World Cup title. With Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller at the crease, the South African team needed 30 runs from 30 balls with five wickets still in hand. However, keeper Rishabh Pant called for a break to get taping done on his knee, and India resumed with the first-ball wicket after the break.
“Thirty balls, 30 runs, and then a break in play. I think both Ian Smith and I were on air, and I said this might just work in India’s favour with Rishabh Pant taking that break. Klaasen was going hammer and tongs at the attack and David Miller was with him. Then came a wicket off the first ball after the break. Things started to change and the game turned around,” Shastri said on Sky Sports.
After the match concluded, Shastri walked to the back of the commentary box and encountered Shaun Pollock sitting in the corner, adding that he really felt sad for the former South African all-rounder because the team came so close.
“You called the final and were wrapping things up. I walked to the back of the commentary box and saw Polly (Shaun Pollock) sitting in the corner. I looked towards him and he said, ‘The biggest one.’ South Africa had long carried the tag of chokers, and he felt this was the biggest example of that. I really felt for Polly because they came so close. They’ve come close so many times,” Shastri added.
