"I just told Rohit Sharma..." - Hardik Pandya reveals how he outfoxed Heinrich Klaasen in T20 WC final

Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya opened up about his emotional journey after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, calling it a dream come true. Hardik Pandya recalled the moment he told skipper Rohit Sharma, "I'm gonna go," before dismissing Heinrich Klaasen in a crucial moment of the final match.

Pandya played a crucial role in helping India secure their second T20 World Cup title at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. He entered the tournament in poor form following a disappointing IPL season as the captain of the Mumbai Indians but delivered a match-winning performance in the final game.

2024 was an unforgettable year for Hardik Pandya, filled with highs and lows. The all-rounder was booed by Mumbai Indians fans but later helped India win the T20 World Cup. However, he lost his T20I captaincy. Despite the setbacks, he remained committed and delivered crucial performances for the team.

His most memorable performance came during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa. With India under immense pressure, Hardik bowled two game-changing overs (17th and 20th). The right-arm pacer defended 16 runs to secure India’s long-awaited ICC title. He broke down into tears after the victory.

It’s a Dream Which Actually Came True - Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya described winning the 2024 T20 World Cup as a surreal experience that lifted a huge burden off his shoulders. Pandya was proud of how he carried himself and contributed significantly to the team’s success without revealing much about his struggles.

"We won as a team. But for me to play that much important role, it is just surreal. And it’s a dream which actually came true. From my shoulder, a big weight was kind of off. I think it was just a relief. Really proud of the way I was able to stand, and maybe not show a lot of emotions or how I have been going through," Hardik said in an interview with the ICC.

I Just Told Rohit That I’m Gonna Go Wide to Klaasen - Hardik Pandya

The match seemed to be slipping away from India after Heinrich Klaasen scored 22 runs off Axar Patel in the 15th over. Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Hardik to bowl the 17th over. He dismissed Klaasen with a catch from Rishabh Pant. Hardik's brilliance prevented South Africa from chasing down the target.

"Just before the ball, I just told him (Rohit) that I’m gonna go wide to Klaasen and I just knew that he's gonna expect a ball which is on the stumps.

"His leg was a little to the leg-side, so I knew that he's gonna try to hit me there and that’s when I, just before my run-up, just looked at him and said I'm gonna go slow because I didn’t set a field for a slower ball. I had to outfox him or I had to be a little one up in the game so he’s not aware of what ball is coming, because the way he was hitting it was just tremendous. That just opened the door for us," recalled Hardik.

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