Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma recently shared that wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant devised a clever strategy that disrupted South Africa’s momentum during the T20 World Cup 2024 final. The match was nearing a tense conclusion, with South Africa needing 30 runs off 30 balls, and India was looking for something to shift the tide in their favor. Pant paused the game, claiming a knee injury, and the physio came onto the field to attend to him. According to Rohit, this break in play helped slow down the game, eventually contributing to India’s victory.
Pant has since addressed Rohit’s comments, explaining that he told the physio to take his time deliberately, slowing down the game to disrupt the opposition’s flow.
“I was thinking about it because, suddenly, the momentum had shifted, and a lot of runs were scored in just 2-3 overs. I thought, when will you get another moment like this—playing in a World Cup final? So, I told the physio to take his time and keep delaying,” Pant explained.
“He asked if I was really okay, and I told him I was just acting. In matches like this, it doesn’t always work, but sometimes it does. And if it works in such a crucial moment, that’s all you need,” Pant shared in a viral video.
Rohit had originally recounted the incident during an appearance on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’. He described how, with 30 runs needed from 30 balls, Pant cleverly halted the game by faking a knee injury, slowing the fast pace that benefited the opposition. Rohit mentioned that while it wasn’t the sole reason for the win, Pant’s quick thinking played a key role in turning the match in India’s favor.
