Rohit Sharma reveals unheard Rishabh Pant tale from India’s T20 World Cup 2024 final win – WATCH

New Delhi: Recalling India’s T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, the very first thing that comes to a common mind were Jasprit Bumrah’s spell in the last five overs, Suryakumar Yadav’s spectacular catch to dismiss David Miller and Hardik Pandya’s brilliant final over heroics. In the end, it was the Men in Blue who clinch the match and the title by seven runs in Barbados.

However, there was one such story about Rishabh Pant that nobody knew until Rohit Sharma spilled the bins on an episode in ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’. The Indian captain revealed a clever ploy by Pant to slow the game, which in a way, contributed the Men in Blue, by slowing down the game when Heinrich Klaasen was going hammer and tongs against the likes of Bumrahs and Pandyas.

“They had a lot of wickets left. We were feeling the tension, but a captain needs to have a strong face at that moment,” Rohit said. “No one knows this, there was a small break (when South Africa needed 26 off 24 balls). Rishabh Pant ne apna dimag lagaya aur game to rok diya (used his brain and delayed proceedings), saying he has a niggle in his knee and started getting it taped by the physio.”

Captain Rohit Sharma revealed the untold story of Rishabh Pant when India needed to defend 30 runs in 30 balls. Two Brothers !
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— (@IamHydro45_) October 5, 2024

That short break broke the momentum for South Africa as Klaasen was caught behind off Pandya in the very first ball of the 17th over, edging behind to Pant for a 27-ball 52. “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 Klaasen was waiting for resumption,” Rohit added. “I’m not saying that was the reason for the win, but it could be. Pant used his brain.”

Also on the show were Suryakumar, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube. Meanwhile, post the win, Rohit along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announced retirements from the shortest format. Earlier, India rode on Kohli’s fifty to post 176/7. Interestingly, Kohli went through a lean patch with the bat for the entire tournament including two ducks.