"He was asking me if I was okay, I told him I'm just acting" - Rishabh Pant opens up on his injury break during 2024 T20 World Cup final
Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has revealed that he was acting during an extended injury break in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados on June 29. The incident happened with the Proteas needing only 26 off 24 balls to clinch their first-ever World Cup title.
Chasing 177 for victory, South Africa got themselves into a dominant position, as they scored a total of 38 runs in the 14th and 15th overs. Pant stopped the game following a four-run 16th over by Jasprit Bumrah and called for the physio to attend to his knee, ultimately breaking South Africa's rhythm.
The first ball of the 17th over saw Heinrich Klaasen get dismissed for 52 off 27 deliveries, eventually helping India pull off a seven-run victory.
Talking about the injury break in a viral video on social media, Pant said (via Johns. X account):
"I was thinking about this. Because suddenly the momentum shifted. There were a lot of runs in 2-3 overs. So, I was thinking, when will this moment come again when you are playing in a World Cup final. So, I was telling the physio, that you take your time, keep wasting the time. He was asking me if I was okay. I told him I'm just acting."
He added:
"Sometimes in such a match situation, I am not saying that it works every time, But sometimes it works. And if it works in such a moment, you want nothing else."
The win broke India's 11-year ICC title drought as they clinched their second T20 World Cup title by going unbeaten throughout the tournament.
"Pant used his intelligence to pause the game" - Rohit Sharma
India captain Rohit Sharma recently mentioned how Rishabh Pant used his intelligence to turn things around for India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
The Indian bowlers conceded only 22 runs off the final five overs, while picking up four wickets to spark one of the greatest turnarounds in cricket history.
Speaking on 'The Kapil Sharma Show,' Rohit said, as quoted by News24:
"When South Africa needed 30 runs off 30 balls, just before that, there was a small break. Pant used his intelligence to pause the game – he had a knee injury, so he had his knee taped, which helped slow down the game – because the game was fast-paced, and at that moment, all a batter wants is the ball to be bowled quickly. But we had to break the rhythm."
"As I was setting the field and talking to bowlers, suddenly I saw Pant fall on the ground. The physiotherapist had arrived and was taping his knee. Klassen was waiting for the match to start again. I am not saying it’s the only reason, but it could be one of them – Pant Sahab used his smarts and things worked out in our favor," he added.
Earlier in the game, Virat Kohli scored his lone half-century of the tournament to bail India out of trouble and bag Player of the Match honors.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah was named the Player of the Tournament for his 15 wickets at an average of 8.26 and an economy of 4.17.