'My mind was clear that I have to catch it come what may' - Suryakumar Yadav dissects his match-winning catch in T20 World Cup final

Suryakumar Yadav pulled off a blinder of a catch in the last over of the intense T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa to dismiss the dangerous David Miller. The Mumbai batter gave an insight into his mindset while attempting the catch that turned the game on its head as India eventually won by seven runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados to become two-time T20 World Cup champions.

Hardik Pandya was given the responsibility of defending 16 runs in the last over against a well-set Miller. The Baroda all-rounder bowled a full toss outside off-stump but Miller couldn't get the ideal connection, giving long-off Suryakumar a chance to pull off one of the best catches in T20 World Cup history. He sprinted across to his left and caught the ball with both hands. However, as his momentum was carrying him over the ropes, he used his presence of mind and lobbed the ball in the air, went a couple of steps outside the boundary cushion, returned inside the playing field and completed a sensational catch.

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Suryakumar said that he briefly exchanged glances with skipper Rohit Sharma, who was fielding at long-on. The 33-year-old noted that he would have thrown the ball to Rohit had he been closer to him. However, in a split second, Suryakumar decided that it was all up to him to take the decisive catch.

"Rohit bhai usually never stands at long-on but at that moment he was there. 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," Suryakumar told the Indian Express.

Some critics have questioned the fairness of the catch because Suryakumar was quite close to the advertising skirting. Replays have also been inconclusive thus far. However, the Mumbai batter said that he was confident it was a fair catch.

"When I pushed the ball [up and inside the playing area] and took the catch, I knew I hadn't touched the rope. 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. In hindsight, anything could have happened. If the ball had gone for six, the equation would have been five balls, ten runs. We might have still won, but the margin would have been closer," the flamboyant batter said.

It's not a one-day exercise, I practice these kinds of catches during IPL, during bilateral series: Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar said that he practised such catches for several years and was happy to make it count at the crucial juncture of the title-deciding clash.

"The catch I took, I have practised it at different grounds, depending on the wind. I was standing a bit wide because Hardik [Pandya] and Rohit bhai had put a field for the wide yorker, and Miller had hit straight. My mind was clear that I have to catch it come what may," Suryakumar said.

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"A day before the game, we do a quality fielding session where for 10-12 minutes, we have more than ten high catches, flat catches, direct hits, slip catching. It's not a one-day exercise, I practice these kinds of catches during IPL, during bilateral series. Yesterday's catch was the reward of the hard work done over the years," he added.