Suryakumar Yadav has finally spoken out about the controversy surrounding his remarkable catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
During a tense final over with South Africa needing 16 runs, David Miller struck a wide full toss from Hardik Pandya towards long-off.
Suryakumar Yadav caught the ball inside the boundary, momentarily crossed the line, and then returned to complete the catch.
The catch drew widespread admiration but also some skepticism about its fairness.
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Multiple video angles of the catch went viral, with some social media users alleging that the boundary cushion had been moved outward during the second innings to favor the Indian team.
“I didn’t touch the line when I caught the ball in the final match against South Africa. We can’t keep everyone happy. I did what occurred to me as correct. By the grace of God, I was there when the ball came towards me. I got a chance to take the catch. I am relishing that moment,”
Suryakumar Yadav told the media.
“I had practiced many times to take a catch like that one. During the match, my mind was calm. God gave me an opportunity to do well for the country,”
he added.
For many longtime fans, Suryakumar’s catch evoked memories of Kapil Dev’s iconic catch in the 1983 World Cup final against the West Indies, where he ran from mid-on to catch Viv Richards’ top-edged shot.
