The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 final was not for the weak-hearted. After Heinrich Klaasen took down Axar Patel and South Africa needed 30 runs off the final five overs, many believed that the game has slipped out of India’s grasp. However, India made a comeback and ended up winning the final by seven runs in Barbados. MS Dhoni was worried about the outcome of the match too but he believed in the team. In a recent event, Dhoni recalled his friends walking outside as they felt that the match was over.
“We were at home; some friends had come over. The way the second innings was going, zyada tar dost bahar chale gaye the (most of them went out). They said to me, it is done, come join us outside. I said to them that in cricket, it is not over until it is over. None of them believed, even I was questioning but on the inside, I was asking abhi kya hona chaiye (what is supposed to happen now),” Dhoni said at Rigi Prabhav 2024 event.
Dhoni on need to keep pushing in the high-pressure game
However, Dhoni knew that there were chinks in the Proteas armour that can be exposed and it is just a matter of making the most of a chance.
“One of the things I firmly believed was that their batters were slightly light on the batting front. There was a time when they were cruising but when the stakes were high and it was very crucial, you get a chance and you want to do the most of it,” the wicketkeeper-batter said.
“I think we did that and we won the trophy. Big congratulations to the guys on the field because that is the kind of energy, motivation, and belief that was needed. Irrespective of the result, till they don’t win we need to keep pushing the game and that was the attitude,” he added.
Before the T20 World Cup 2024, the lost ICC trophy India won was under MS Dhoni’s leadership when they beat England to get their hands of ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
