In a surprising and emotional moment, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma was seen tasting the soil of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final pitch after leading his team to victory. This act, reminiscent of Novak Djokovic’s famous gesture, captured the attention of fans worldwide. In a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rohit shared his thoughts on this unique celebration and the significance of the victory for the Indian team.
The Victory That Made History ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed that the feeling of winning the ICC T20 World Cup has not fully sunk in. India’s second ICC T20 World Cup title win ended their long drought for an ICC trophy. This historic victory was achieved by defeating first-time finalists South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final at Barbados.
Emotions Overflow: Rohit’s Reaction
In the BCCI video, Rohit described the surreal feeling of winning the tournament. “The feeling actually is surreal. I would still say it has not sunk in totally. It has been a great moment. Right from when the game got over till now, it feels like a dream,” said Rohit. The team had worked tirelessly for this moment, and the reality of their achievement felt almost unreal.
Celebrations into the Early Hours
The celebrations continued well into the morning. Rohit mentioned how the team celebrated their victory until the early hours, causing him to miss out on sleep. However, he emphasized that every moment of the celebration was worth it. “We had a blast with the teammates till very early morning. So again, I would say I did not sleep properly. But that is absolutely fine by me,” Rohit stated, highlighting the joy and relief that came with their triumph.
The ‘Novak Djokovic Act’
Rohit’s act of tasting the soil from the Barbados pitch drew comparisons to Novak Djokovic, who famously ate Wimbledon grass after his victories. Rohit explained the sentiment behind his action, saying, “I was feeling the moment when I went to the pitch because that pitch gave us this. We played on that particular pitch and we won the game, that particular ground as well. I will remember that ground forever in my life and that pitch as well. So I wanted to have a piece of it with me.”
The Final Match: A Detailed Breakdown ICC T20 World Cup 2024
India’s Innings
India won the toss and opted to bat first in the final match. Despite a shaky start, where they were reduced to 34/3, a counter-attacking partnership between Virat Kohli and Axar Patel helped stabilize the innings. Virat scored a crucial 76, while Axar contributed 47 off 31 balls. A subsequent partnership between Virat and Shivam Dube added 57 more runs, helping India post a competitive total of 176/7 in their 20 overs.
Top South African bowlers included Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje, who took two wickets each, with Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram claiming one each.
South Africa’s Run Chase
Chasing 177 runs, South Africa faced an early setback, losing two wickets for just 12 runs. However, a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs brought them back into the game. Heinrich Klaasen’s half-century further threatened India’s chances. Yet, the Indian bowlers made a stunning comeback in the death overs. Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya delivered exceptional performances, restricting South Africa to 169/8 in their 20 overs.
Virat Kohli was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding contribution.
Rohit Sharma’s emotional connection with the pitch and his celebratory act of tasting the soil symbolized the culmination of years of hard work and dreams coming true. This victory not only ended India’s ICC trophy drought but also etched a memorable chapter in the annals of cricket history. Rohit’s sentiments, coupled with the team’s performance, highlighted the essence of perseverance, teamwork, and the joy of achieving a long-awaited goal. As India looks forward to future challenges, this victory will serve as a reminder of their potential and resilience.
