Former South African cricketer and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) bowling coach Jonty Rhodes termed Suryakumar Yadav's catch in the final over of T20 World Cup 2024 final a game-changing moment. Suryakumar took a spectacular catch to dismiss David Miller off the final ball bowled by Hardik Pandya. While many questioned the dismissal as the boundary rope was disturbed earlier in the match during India's innings, Rhodes said that he respects the players who prove their mettle with a game-changing moment.
"I always respect my players and the opposition who've done something that can turn the game. There's no guarantee. Had it gone for six, Miller could have carried on hitting the ball out the park. But it certainly shows that catches can win matches in T20 cricket. And it's one thing when teams are that close together. India had a great tournament, South Africa had fought their way through. They hadn't played the greatest of cricket, but they had shown they were real fighters," Rhodes told ANI.
Mixed emotions about Suryakumar’s catch
Rhodes said that South Africa would have gone on to win their maiden World Cup title had Suryakumar dropped the catch and the ball went for a six. He had mixed emotions about the catch as he also felt good that an Indian fielder took a brilliant catch.
"India had dominated the way that they played and the teams were that close that it was literally two meters away from, you know, possibly the game going in South africa's favour. So yes mixed emotions. But as a fielding coach and someone who's very closely associated to India I was really happy that the game-changing moment for me was probably a good piece of fielding," the 55-year-old added.
India, South Africa’s T20I performances after T20 World Cup 2024 final
After the T20 World Cup 2024, while a second-string side led by Shubman Gill beat Zimbabwe 4-1 and Suryakumar Yadav-led side completed a cleansweep in the three-T20I series against Sri Lanka, Aiden Markram’s South Africa have struggled. Playing with their second-string squad as several senior players were rested, they suffered cleansweep in the three-T20I series at the hands of two-time T20 World Cup champions West Indies.
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