India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa unleashed a wave of emotions, with even the team’s veterans struggling to hold back tears. Captain Rohit Sharma, batting maestro Virat Kohli, and the ever-reliable Hardik Pandya were all seen shedding tears of joy, finally ending India’s long wait for a World Cup title.
These players have endured the heartbreak of several near misses in past tournaments, making their emotional release completely understandable. Young pacer Arshdeep Singh, on the other hand, experienced a different kind of pressure during the nail-biting finish. His heart pounded as teammate Suryakumar Yadav took a spectacular catch to dismiss David Miller, a pivotal moment that practically sealed India’s win.
However, unlike his emotional teammates, Arshdeep Singh couldn’t manage to shed a tear himself. “I was incredibly happy,” he told The Indian Express. “Having played so many tense matches for Punjab Kings in the IPL, I seem to have run out of emotions! I tried really hard, but tears just wouldn’t come out.”
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He continued, “Seeing legends like Rohit bhai and Virat bhai, who have achieved so much, being overwhelmed with emotion – I was happy for them. But for some reason, I couldn’t cry myself.”
Arshdeep Singh played a crucial role in the final over drama. When he came in to bowl the 19th over with South Africa needing 20 runs for victory, nerves could have easily gotten the better of him. But the young talent kept his cool, conceding only four runs in that over.
Question: Did you cry after the last ball in the final? [Pratyush Raj From Express Sports]
Arshdeep Singh said “I was very happy, I have played so many nerve wrecking matches for PBKS so that I don’t have any emotions left – I watched legends of the game, Rohit Bhai, Virat bhai… pic.twitter.com/vstHayJgc1
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 5, 2024
With his bowling duties complete, Arshdeep Singh then found himself in a prime position to witness the heroics of Hardik Pandya, who successfully defended 16 runs in the final over. He described having the perfect view of Suryakumar Yadav’s incredible catch.
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“My heart was racing. I was stationed at sweeper cover, which gave me a great side-angle view,” he said. “When Miller hit the ball, I thought it was going for a six, but then, like something out of a movie, it started to dip. The way Surya bhai judged the catch… He mentioned in the post-match interview that he initially just wanted to save the six, but then realized he had a chance to take it. He took that risk, and it was incredibly brave of him.”
Arshdeep Singh might not have shed tears himself, but his words perfectly capture the emotional rollercoaster India’s players and fans experienced during that unforgettable World Cup final.
