Rohit Sharma Reveals Concerns Over Rishabh Pant's Injury Scare During T20 World Cup Final

India's victory in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados on June 29, 2024, marked the end of an 11-year wait for an ICC title. Under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, the team secured a thrilling seven-run win, sparking nationwide celebrations.

Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant strategizing on the field.

A pivotal moment in the final occurred during South Africa’s chase. With 30 runs needed from 30 balls, Rishabh Pant suddenly went down, clutching his knee. This unexpected pause in play sparked immediate concern, especially considering Pant's previous recovery from a serious car accident in 2022.

Reflecting on the incident a year later, Rohit Sharma admitted to initially fearing the worst. He revealed his thought process in an interview with Star Sports.

"See, Hardik [Pandya] has come to bowl there. So, we were discussing with Hardik what to do. I didn't know what had happened before. I genuinely thought that something had happened to him. The accident he had, I thought he was just trying to… But actually, it was just to stop the game a little bit. The momentum was with them, so it was very important to break that. So, I think we went back to that. Eventually, Hardik dismissed Klaasen," Rohit explained.

Earlier, on "The Great Indian Kapil Show," Rohit elaborated on how Pant's quick thinking helped the team regain composure. He stated, “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.”

Analyzing India's strategic spin options ahead of a crucial test match.

He further added, "But 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, but it could be one of them - Pant Sahab used his smarts and things worked out in our favour.”

India’s T20 World Cup victory was not only a moment of triumph but also an emotional farewell for key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and coach Rahul Dravid. Pant’s "injury," whether strategic or genuine, remains a highly debated aspect of that unforgettable night.

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