“Rishabh Pant Used His Intelligence” - Rohit Sharma Recalls One of The Key Moments in T20 World Cup Final

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Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has revealed how Rishabh Pant's intelligence may have played a role in the team's turnaround during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa when 30 runs were needed off 30 balls.

India ended their long-wait for an ICC trophy earlier this year by winning the T20 World Cup, beating South Africa by 7 runs in the title clash at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29.

Chasing 177, South Africa were well on course to win their maiden ICC title, but the Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya bowled very well in the death to change the game in their team's favour, restricting the Proteas to 169/8.

Defending a run-a-ball - 30 off 30, Rohit recalled the tense moments and how he need to show his calm and instill belief in the team that felt down and out at the end of the 15th over.

"They had wickets in plenty and a settled batter on the field. We were all tense, freaking out. But at that moment, a captain has to show a strong front for the whole team, signaling that there is no need to panic," Rohit said during the Great Indian Kapil Show Season 2.

Sharma also said that anything could have happened on that wicket, stressing on the unpredictable nature of the pitch at the Kensington Oval, where Virat Kohli's knock helped India post the highest total in a T20 World Cup final.

"Anything could have happened on that wicket. When we were batting, we lost wickets, then made a partnership, and later lost wickets again. We expected the same could happen to them as their batting lineup ended at the seventh position. We had to take a wicket at any cost since Klaasen and Miller were playing," Rohit added.

While Bumrah-led pace attack played an important role in India's incredible turnaround, skipper Rohit details how Pant, who had returned from a long injury lay-off, may have also contirbuted to changing the rythm in the match.

One of the key turning points, according to Sharma, was Pant's strategic move to break the opposition's momentum just when Heinrich Klaasen was going all guns blazing alongside David Miller.

"No one knows this, but before those 30 runs in 30 balls, Rishabh Pant used his intelligence to cause a break. He got some taping done on his knee and slowed down the game. At that time, the batter wants the balls to be bowled quickly, and we had to break that rhythm," the T20 World Cup-winning skipper said.

"I was setting the field and talking to bowlers when I saw Pant had fallen. The physio was taping him, and Klaasen was waiting for the game to start. I am not saying this could be the reason entirely but surely one of them."

It was Bumrah's tight 16th over that put the brakes on the South African chase, but after the delay due to Pant needing attention, the game completely changed in India's favour.

Sharma also recounted how Hardik's dismissal of Klaasen in the 17th over built pressure on South Africa, adding how his team may have gotten in the heads of the Proteas in the closing stages.

"Then in that over, Hardik took Klaasen's wicket, and the pressure started building up on them. We all gathered and said some things to their batters, which I can't say here, but it was essential to do it," Sharma said.

"We wanted to win the match at any cost, and one or two fines would have been fine. I told the boys to say whatever they wanted to openly, and we would deal with umpires and referees later."