Former India head coach and the legendary batter Rahul Dravid recalled about the intense emotions during the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa as well. However, it was his last assignment as the head coach of the Indian team.

During a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin, Dravid shared his thinking while Heinrich Klassen was batting for South Africa during the final as well. South Africa were chasing 177 and were cruising at one stage but Dravid recalled thinking that a wicket or two at that point could help him win as well.

“We were thinking that if Quinton got out, then we’d have Miller and Klaasen for the seven overs, and the target was gettable. But you get the wicket of Klaasen or Miller, and the game could change,” he said on ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’.

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When Arshdeep Singh dismissed Quinton de Kock in the 13th over, Rahul Dravid recalled thinking that Team India were in the game as well. However, it was an absolute thriller as Klassen smashed Axar Patel for 24 runs in the very next over as well. South Africa needed just 30 runs from as many deliveries and had the upper hand. Jasprit Bumrah then came in and bowled an amazing over, where he gave away just four runs. Soon after, Hardik Pandya dismissed Klassen as India eventually won the game by seven runs as well.

“It wasn’t about, ‘Oh, the match is gone,’ we were like we just need one more wicket, let’s get Bumrah back. That’s what Rohit did, right? Got Bumrah back, he bowled a tight over and Hardik bowled a good ball to get Klaasen out. Things kind of changed, and we still needed a bit of luck towards the end. Suryakumar had to take an incredible catch, just two inches from the boundary. Amazing stuff. So many things againt you but you’re still able to pull it off,” Rahul Dravid concluded.