[Watch] When Jay Shah promised that Rohit Sharma would lead India to T20 World Cup glory in Barbados
A February 2024 video of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah making a promise that Rohit Sharma-led India will lift the 2024 T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados has gone viral on social media. In the clip, Shah stated that while India won hearts in the 2023 ODI World Cup, they would lift the T20 World Cup trophy in 2024.
The BCCI secretary's words proved prophetic as the Men in Blue lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup trophy under Rohit's captaincy on Saturday. Team India beat South Africa by seven runs in the final of the tournament at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Batting first, India put up 176-7 on the board and then restricted the Proteas to 169-8.
Not long after India ended their jinx in ICC events, Shah's video from February 2024 went viral on social media. In the clip, while addressing an event in Rajkot, he had commented:
“In 2023 (ODI World Cup final) at Ahmedabad, even though we did not win the World Cup after 10 straight wins, we won hearts. I want to promise you that in 2024 (T20 World Cup), under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, we will hoist the Indian flag in Barbados."
Under Rohit, India had a terrific run in the 2023 ODI World Cup. They cruised through the league stage and even registered a thumping victory in the semifinal against New Zealand. However, they stumbled in the final, going down to Australia by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Rohit Sharma led from the front in India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph
Although Rohit was dismissed for 9 in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados, he was the team's most consistent batter during the tournament. The 37-year-old smashed 257 runs in eight innings at an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.71, finishing as the second leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup edition.
The right-handed batter struck a magnificent 92 off 41 in the Super 8 match against Australia in St Lucia. He also top-scored for the Men in Blue with 57 off 39 in the semifinal against England in Guyana as India registered an 68-run win.