Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has revisited India’s memorable victory over South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, identifying a crucial moment that he believes changed the course of the match. India defeated the Proteas by seven runs on June 29, 2024, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados to lift their second T20 World Cup trophy and end an 11-year wait for an ICC title.
South Africa appeared to be in a commanding position during the run chase and were closing in on their maiden T20 World Cup title. With Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller at the crease, the Proteas needed just 30 runs from the final 30 deliveries, with five wickets remaining. However, a brief interruption in play proved significant, according to Shastri, who was part of the commentary panel alongside Ian Smith and Shaun Pollock.
Speaking to Smith on Sky Sports, Ravi Shastri recalled how he sensed that the break could work in India’s favour, particularly with Klaasen putting the Indian bowlers under tremendous pressure. “Thirty balls, 30 runs, and then a break in play. I think both Ian Smith and I were on air, and I said this might just work in India’s favour with Rishabh Pant taking that break. Klaasen was going hammer and tongs at the attack and David Miller was with him. Then came a wicket off the first ball after the break. Things started to change and the game turned around,” Shastri said.
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The former India coach also remembered an emotional moment involving Shaun Pollock after the final ended. Shastri walked towards the back of the commentary box, where he found the former South African all-rounder sitting quietly. Pollock’s reaction reflected the disappointment of a team that had come remarkably close to winning its first-ever T20 World Cup.
“You called the final and were wrapping things up. I walked to the back of the commentary box and saw Polly (Shaun Pollock) sitting in the corner. I looked towards him and he said, ‘The biggest one.’ South Africa had long carried the tag of chokers, and he felt this was the biggest example of that. I really felt for Polly because they came so close. They’ve come close so many times,” Ravi Shastri told Smith.
Shastri admitted that South Africa’s defeat would have been particularly difficult to accept because of the position they were in during the chase. Losing after needing only 30 runs from 30 balls with five wickets in hand made the result even more heartbreaking for the Proteas. “Had South Africa comfortably beaten India, it would have been easier to accept. But needing 30 runs from 30 balls with five wickets in hand and then losing from there, that would leave you absolutely gutted,” he added.
Despite celebrating India’s historic triumph, Shastri expressed sympathy for South Africa’s players and supporters. He also pointed to their subsequent World Test Championship success as a significant achievement that helped the team move beyond the disappointment of the T20 World Cup final.
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“In many ways, I’m glad South Africa went on to win the World Test Championship and finally got that monkey off their back. But if you were on the other side of that result, it would have been a very tough pill to swallow,” Ravi Shastri said.
India’s victory remains one of the defining moments of their recent cricketing history, while Shastri’s recollection highlights how a crucial break and the wicket that followed helped turn a seemingly difficult final in India’s favour.
