Paras Mhambrey reveals team's discussions after Heinrich Klaasen's onslaught against Axar Patel in T20 World Cup 2024 final

Paras Mhambrey, the former Team India bowling coach, recently opened up about Axar Patel's expensive over in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024. Paras Mhambrey praised South African middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen for his batting, describing him as one of the top T20 batters in the world.

The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, secured a seven-wicket victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29. The Men in Blue beat South Africa in a nail-biting encounter to end their 11-year ICC trophy drought. Notably, it was India's first World Cup victory since 2011.

The Indian team was on the verge of losing the match at one stage after Heinrich Klaasen's onslaught against Axar Patel. Klaasen scored 24 runs, including two sixes and two fours, off Axar's bowling in the 15th over. After the over, the match turned in the Proteas' favor with needing 30 runs off the last five overs.

Heinrich Klaasen Was At The Top Of The Game - Paras Mhambrey

In a conversation with News18, Paras Mhambrey highlighted Heinrich Klaasen's ability to handle both spin and fast bowling effectively. The former bowling coach said that Klaasen was at the top of his game during the final match.

"So, obviously, you must have seen Axar's over. I think overall, the way Heinrich Klaasen was batting, he is one of the top T20 batters in the world. I think he can be number one. The way he is consistently batting, he is comfortable against both spin and fast. So, he was at the top of the game," Paras said.

The 52-year-old said that Heinrich Klaasen played exceptionally well despite Axar Patel not bowling poor deliveries. Mhambrey added that Klaasen managed to hit difficult lengths effectively. He stated that Rohit Sharma also acknowledged there wasn't much a bowler could do in that over.

"If you look at Axar's over, divide, and go ball by ball, it didn't look like he was playing a bad ball anywhere. Whatever shot he played, it didn't look like he was giving room, half-volley, forward. Whatever length he put in, which was a difficult length, he hit it. So, obviously, he bowled better. And it happens, like Rohit obviously spoke to him on the ground. You know, it happens. Axar has consistently bowled better. But if a batsman is in good form, you can't do anything," he added.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled the crucial 16th over and conceded only four runs. Hardik Pandya then dismissed Klaasen on the first ball of the 17th over. Pandya took a crucial wicket of David Miller when South Africa needed 16 runs in the final over. Suryakumar Yadav took an exceptional catch at the boundary line.

Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh gave away only 22 runs in the last five overs. Rahul Dravid and his coaching staff, including Paras Mhambrey, ended their tenure with the India men's cricket team. However, fielding coach T Dilip was retained for India's white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

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