“We were willing to take a few fines” – Rohit Sharma recalls how desperate India sledged South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final

Indian captain Rohit Sharma revealed they were willing to take a few fines when the T20 World Cup final was slipping away from them against South Africa at Barbados. The Proteas needed a run-a-ball 30 to win their maiden World Cup title but India bounced back in the last five overs.

Hardik Pandya was able to get the big wicket of a well-settled Heinrich Klaasen and that changed the match on its head. The Men in Blue registered a seven-run win to clinch their second T20 World Cup title.

Rohit Sharma said on Kapil Sharma show on Netflix, “Hardik dismissed Klaasen in that over, and from then onwards, pressure started to build on South Africa. Then all the boys gathered and started to sledge their batters, details of which I can’t disclose here, but it was essential because we had to win at any cost.”

“To win that (the T20 World Cup), we were willing to take a few fines. That is why I told the boys to say whatever they felt like; we would handle the umpires and referees later.”

On the other hand, Rohit revealed how Rishabh Pant slowed the game down by calling the physio when South Africa were in a shoo-in position.

“When South Africa needed 30 runs off 30 balls, just before that, there was a small break. It was here that 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 it was proceeding by quickly and at that moment, all a batter wants is the ball to be bowled quickly.”

“We had to break the rhythm. As I was setting the field and talking to bowlers, suddenly I saw Pant fallen on the ground. The physiotherapist had arrived and was taping his knee. Klaasen was waiting for the match to start again. I am not saying it’s the only reason (he did so), but it could be one of them – Pant Sahab used his wits and things worked out in our favor.”

Rohit will next lead India in a three-match Test series against New Zealand.