Fans were left on the edge of their seats as Rohit Sharma and his team made an incredible comeback to clinch victory in the T20 World Cup final. South Africa appeared to be in a strong position to chase down 177 runs in Barbados, but India’s pace trio—Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya—sparked a dramatic turnaround by taking four wickets in quick succession. As a result, India won the match by 7 runs, becoming world champions.
Months later, during a TV interview, captain Rohit Sharma disclosed that wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant pretended to be injured to disrupt the Proteas’ momentum. “At a critical moment in the match, Rishabh Pant’s strategic thinking likely benefited the team. When we needed 30 runs off 30 balls, the umpire called for a short break,” Rohit explained. “He cleverly used that time to unsettle the batsman, which slowed the game down. This tactical decision could be seen as a key factor in our win.”
Recently, Pant admitted that with five overs left in South Africa’s innings, he faked an injury and asked the physio to take extra time. “The momentum had shifted in their favor, and they were scoring too many runs in just two or three overs,” Pant said at a Star Sports event in Bengaluru.
“I told the physio to take his time because we needed to slow things down a bit. When Rohit bhai asked if I was alright, I replied, ‘Bhaiyaa, bas acting kar raha tha’ (It was just acting, I’m fine).”
Rishabh Pant on his fake injury in the World Cup Final 🤣
What a day! Also got a group photo with Rishabh Pant where I’m standing right next to him 🤩. pic.twitter.com/nrLG5o5xba
— Naman 🏏 (@Mr_unknown23_) October 11, 2024
Pant also noted that while such tactics may not always work, he was glad they proved effective in the World Cup final. “I’m not saying these tricks succeed every time, but if the moment calls for it, like in the T20 World Cup final, then why not,” he added.
