\u201cSurya was at long-off and that catch\u2014honestly, it was the moment of the match. Even after he took it, the umpires were checking if he touched the rope. Everyone\u2019s heart was in their mouth. I was at long-on, watching it unfold. It looked like a six\u2014until Surya flew in and took that blinder. With the wind blowing in, I think it helped pull the ball back slightly.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI was standing next to him during the check. I asked him and he said, \u2018I think I\u2019ve caught it.\u2019 The zoom camera showed the rope didn\u2019t move\u2014which usually happens if it\u2019s touched. That gave us some relief. But until it flashed on the big screen, you don\u2019t know what the third umpire\u2019s going to decide,\u201d said Rohit to JioHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The trophy win also meant Rahul Dravid had a happy end to his coaching stint. Rohit explained how he convinced Dravid sir to stay on for one final mission after the 2023 ODI World Cup final heartbreak.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cRahul bhai wanted to step down after the 2023 World Cup. But we said, \u2018There\u2019s another World Cup in six months. We\u2019ve come this far. Let\u2019s give it one more shot.\u2019 He agreed\u2014and I\u2019m so glad he did. I\u2019m sure even now he feels that he made the right decision.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor me personally, it was also emotional. My identity as a cricketer began with this format\u2014in the 2007 T20 World Cup. To come full circle and lift the trophy again in 2024\u2014it was just fantastic,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Before winning the emotional final, India had another emotional high with a win over England in the semi-final at Guyana. With memories of the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss to England still fresh, Rohit recalled how he and the team think-tank planned everything to the T, including sequencing their bowlers in power-play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHeading into this semi-final, I was quietly confident. We\u2019d played really good cricket leading up to this match\u2014everyone was in form, and we were doing exactly what we had set out to do as a team. Of course, the 2022 loss to England was in the back of our minds\u2014it should be.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was a heavy defeat. But we learned from that. From 2022 to 2024, we changed a lot of things: our mindset, our preparation, and the way we approached key moments. This time, we were fully prepared. There was belief, and there was clarity in what we wanted to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cTaking wickets in the powerplay was crucial\u2014half the job gets done there. And against England, it was especially important. Both, Buttler and Salt are dangerous, but Buttler is their key player. He\u2019s experienced, plays around the world, and knows our bowlers well\u2014how to play Axar, Kuldeep, and Bumrah. So, getting him early was critical.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was a heavy defeat. But we learned from that. From 2022 to 2024, we changed a lot of things: our mindset, our preparation, and the way we approached key moments. This time, we were fully prepared. There was belief, and there was clarity in what we wanted to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n