‘Pant pretended to be injured to break batter’s rhythm’: Rohit Sharma reveals ‘clever’ wicketkeeper’s tactics

With 30 runs needed off the last 30 balls in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, the match was in South Africa’s pocket and slipping away from India. Axar Patel was smashed for 24 runs in the 15th over by Heinrich Klaasen, who was going all guns blazing with David Miller.

That’s when Indian wicket-keeper bat Rishabh Pant decided to call the physio to take a look at his knee. This broke the Proteas’ impetus as Miller and Klaasen were running away with the match. On the first ball of the 16th over, Hardik Pandya was able to get the big wicket of Klaasen and India was able to turn a corner.

“Rishabh Pant’s strategic thinking during a crucial moment in a match may have played a key role in their victory. When the team needed 30 runs off 30 balls, a short break occurred. Pant cleverly used this time to disrupt the batsman’s rhythm by pretending to be injured, which slowed down the game. This tactical move could be considered a significant factor in the win,” Rohit revealed on Kapil Sharma Show on Netflix.

“I was busy adjusting the field, Heinrich Klaasen was waiting on strike. And then I suddenly saw Rishabh lying flat. I can’t say that break actually did the job but Pant did apply his brain and we benefitted from it,” he added.

Rohit also shed light on his robotic-type walk before collecting the World Cup trophy from Jay Shah.

“There was no plan for it. It just happened at that moment. I just thought of doing something different. You don’t win World Cups every day. So, when you have done it, something different should be done. I was so involved in that atmosphere,” Rohit said.

Meanwhile, India recently won the two-match Test series against Bangladesh by 2-0. Rohit will be seen in action in the three-match Test series against New Zealand, starting 16th October.