Suryakumar Yadav. (Source – BCCI)
India won the T20 World Cup 2024 by outclassing South Africa in the Final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29. Chasing the target of 176, the Proteas took the game down to the wire and it all boiled down to the final over needing 16 as Hardik Pandya was about to bowl. David Miller was on the strike, and Pandya delivered a low full toss as the southpaw launched it high towards the long off.
The ball was sailing above the boundary line and Suryakumar Yadav stationed there displayed sheer athleticism as he grabbed the ball only to throw it away, and hop inside and outside the rope to complete the catch. The catch was a match-defining one and SKY almost sealed the deal for India. As the team gave the fielding medal to the best fielder of the game, Suryakumar received the honour as BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, provided him with the award.
“We talk about rising to the occasion in big games today. We just didn’t rise, but we conquered today. The intensity, the camaraderie, the resilience, that we are shown today and also throughout the tournament, we are nothing short of extraordinary stuff like a pack of wolves. Well, Rahul and Rohit keep saying everybody knew their role. But together we hunted every opportunity which came our way, leaving no stone unturned,” T Dilip said in a video uploaded by BCCI.
“Thank you so much, sir, for giving me this opportunity and collecting this medal from Jay sir,” Suryakumar said.
Here’s the video of Suryakumar receiving the medal:
Suryakumar Yadav brings memories of 1983 back
The catch by Suryakumar reminded cricket fans of the famous catch by legendary Kapil Dev in the 1983 World Cup to dismiss the dangerous Vivian Richards. Defending the target of 183, Richards was the man between India and their historic feat. Thanks to the Kapil, who ran backward to orchestrate the most difficult catch India capitalised and emerged victorious.