Arshdeep Singh, India’s leading wicket-taker at the 2024 T20 World Cup, credited wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s masterstroke tactic for the team’s thrilling win over South Africa in the title clash. Speaking at the ‘Champions’ session of Agenda AajTak, Arshdeep shared how Pant’s tactical brilliance turned the momentum in India’s favor during the final in Barbados. Arshdeep, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya helped India snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and end the nation’s 11-year-long wait for an ICC crown.
“First of all, I want to thank everyone so much for all the love and support you’ve shown. At that moment, when we needed 30 runs off the last three balls, there was a small break when Rishabh bhai was receiving treatment from the physio. At that point, I felt like it could be a game-changing moment, maybe even a tactical move. We didn’t know then whether he genuinely needed the treatment or not. But after that, when Hardik bhai took the wicket and Jassi bhai created immense pressure, that’s when the team started believing we could win the match from there. We just stuck to the plan, executed it well, and got the result we wanted,” Arshdeep revealed.
Virat Kohli anchored India’s innings with a crucial half-century, propelling the team to a competitive 176 for 7. South Africa, chasing the target, seemed on track despite losing early wickets, with Heinrich Klaasen spearheading their assault. At 151 for 4 after 16 overs, needing just 26 runs from 24 balls, the Proteas looked poised to snatch victory.
It was at this tense juncture that Pant’s quick thinking came into play. Before the 17th over commenced, Pant appeared to suffer from a knee niggle and summoned the physio to attend to him. The brief pause disrupted the rhythm of Klaasen, who was in blistering form with a rapid 52 off 27 balls.
When play resumed, the momentum swung drastically. Hardik Pandya dismissed Klaasen with the first ball of the over, delivering the breakthrough India desperately needed. The dismissal marked the beginning of South Africa’s collapse, as they lost their footing in the final overs under the pressure created by Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah’s disciplined bowling.
South Africa eventually fell short by seven runs, handing India their long-awaited ICC trophy. The Men in Blue celebrated their triumph, with Arshdeep, who consistently delivered impactful performances throughout the tournament, expressing gratitude for the team’s belief and execution under pressure.
Pant’s supposed injury, which now appears to have been a clever ploy to break Klaasen’s rhythm, earned him praise as the unsung hero of the night. This tactical gamble, combined with the team’s resilience, etched India’s name into history once again, 15 years after their first T20 World Cup title.
