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Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian batsman whose acrobatic catch in the final over of the T20 World Cup final against South Africa turned the tide in India’s favor, recently opened up about the experience.
Yadav revealed that he saw his teammate Rohit Sharma positioned farther away at long-on than usual, prompting him to make a split-second decision to go all out for the catch himself.
“Rohit bhai usually stands at long-off, but at that moment he was at long-on,” Yadav told the Indian Express. “So when the ball was coming, for a second I looked at him and he looked at me. I ran and my aim was to catch the ball. Had he [Rohit] been closer, I would have thrown the ball towards him. But he was nowhere close. In those four to five seconds, whatever happened, I can’t explain.”
The catch, which dismissed South Africa’s David Miller, has been a major talking point. Replays haven’t been conclusive on whether Yadav’s foot brushed the advertising skirting, but the Indian batsman is confident he didn’t touch the rope.
“When I pushed the ball [up and inside the playing area] and took the catch, I knew I hadn’t touched the rope,” he said. “The only thing I was cautious about was that when I pushed the ball back inside, my feet don’t touch the rope. I knew it was a fair catch.”
Yadav also credited the team’s fielding coach, T Dilip, for instilling a culture of excellence in the field. Dilip’s practice drills, including the “fielding medal” awarded after each match, motivated players to put in the extra effort.
“The catch I took, I have practiced it at different grounds, depending on the wind,” he explained. “My mind was clear that I have to catch it come what may.”
The focus on fielding extends beyond practice sessions. Yadav emphasized the importance of fitness, revealing he spent four months recovering from injuries and working on his physique. This included a dietary overhaul with the help of a nutritionist.
“I remember last August, I was at around 93kg, maybe because I was having too much local food,” he said. “I got injured and then had a hernia operation… Even during off days, I used to not go home because I knew Monday morning would be my session. I couldn’t waste time.”
Yadav’s dedication paid off in the form of the World Cup-winning catch. He’s still basking in the euphoria of the victory and the overwhelming response from fans.
“The amount of reaction I have been getting for that, people have been calling, messaging; there are more than 1000 unread WhatsApp messages on my phone,” he said.
Suryakumar Yadav’s story is one of determination, focus, and the ability to execute under pressure. His catch will be forever etched in the memory of Indian cricket fans, a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into winning a World Cup
