Rohit Sharma reveals feeling 'completely blank' after Heinrich Klaasen decimated Axar Patel in T20 World Cup final

Indian captain Rohit Sharma recently opened up about his reaction when South Africa was in a winning position during the final match of the recent T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit Sharma admitted that he was completely blank during the crucial moment during the summit clash against the Aiden Markram-led team.

The Men in Blue secured a seven-run victory in the final match at Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29. Rohit Sharma became the second Indian captain to win the T20 World Cup. It is worth mentioning that the veteran opener announced his retirement from the T20I format after the final encounter in the Caribbean.

The match remained close until middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen showcased exceptional hitting in the 15th over, shifting momentum. Klaasen scored 24 runs off left-arm spinner Axar Patel’s over with two sixes and two fours. The Proteas needed just 30 runs off 30 deliveries to secure their maiden World Cup.

"Yes, I was completely blank," Rohit said at an event in Dallas, recalling that crucial period of play.

Pace bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah conceded just four runs in the 16th over to bring the Men in Blue back into the game. Hardik Pandya then gave India a crucial boost by dismissing Klaasen on the first ball of the 17th over. South Africa's batters then struggled to score runs against the Indian pacers.

Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh conceded only 22 runs in the final five overs to secure the World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav grabbed an exceptional catch at the boundary on the first ball of the final over to dismiss David Miller. The Men in Blue ended their decade-long wait for an ICC title.

We Just Focussed On Out Job - Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma said that the Indian team chose to stick to the basics rather than thinking much about anything else when South Africa needed 30 runs off 30 balls. The Indian skipper emphasized that remaining focused and calm allowed them to execute their plans effectively and avoid panicking.

"I don't look too far ahead. It's very important for me to stay in the moment and focus on the job at hand. It was very important for all of us to stay calm and try to execute our plans. When we were under immense pressure when South Africa needed 30 runs off 30 balls, the five overs that we bowled showed how calm we were. We just focussed on our job, not thinking much about anything else. We didn't panic that was very good from our side," he said.

Rohit Sharma is likely to be rested from the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka in August. The Indian skipper is expected to prioritize red-ball cricket due to a busy schedule later this year. India will play home Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand, as well as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Also read: "Put your head down..." - Ex-Pakistan cricketer slams Shaheen Afridi for disrespecting Mohammad Yousuf