[WATCH] AB de Villiers credits star player for India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory during interview with Shubhankar Mishra

The former Protea captain, Ab de Villiers, has recently opened up on the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 when India snatched victory from the South Africa side at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Even though many reckon that it was Surya Kumar Yadav’s catch to dismiss David Miller or Rishabh Pant’s smart tactic to delay the game that saved them, de Villiers had a different thought process.

De Villiers reckoned that the game was widely open for a long time as Heinrich Klassen was batting exceptionally well. He revealed that when the wicket-keeper got out, the game started to shift from the Aiden Markram-led side.

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‘I think the ultimate is still stacked against us. Even though Klassen batted exceptionally well, I always knew the ball got a bit softer, and if we lose one wicket, it’s gonna open up widely, you know, and that ended up happening. Klassen turned it around and gave us a chance. But I think, India, batting first, set up such a good total.’ Ab de Villiers expressed in a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra.

Watch: Ab de Villiers credits star player for India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory

‘I always knew it was going to be a tough choice in the final. So, I think the guys did well to come close, but still. I think Klassen getting out was the most crucial moment of the final. There was a moment when we could have shifted back to the second or third. There were so many moments (like Rishabh Pant delaying). These are storytelling.’ Ab de Villiers added.  

Shubhankar Mishra is trying to say that Sky's catch and Pant's delay won us the Match But Ab De Villiers Said "Klassen's wicket was most important if he battled 3 more overs SA would've won the Final" even AB knows, sir Hardik Pandya won us the T20 World Cup.🐐 pic.twitter.com/DTkXgpDi0H

— RISHAV (@itzrishav108) August 3, 2025

Batting first, the Blue Brigade posted 176/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to the 76-run knock from Virat Kohli, while Axar Patel drilled 47 runs in 31 balls. They kept the Proteas for 169/8 to earn a victory by seven runs.  

‘If Klassen batted for three more overs, we would have won, in my opinion. Even if he just took once and just extended the game a bit. So, his getting out really sort of took the momentum out of the sails, and then obviously, the little moments happened. But that’s what it is. I think Panyda handled the final over exceptionally well. You got to give it to him.’ Ab de Villiers concluded.