It was the catch that ended India’s ICC trophy drought by 11 years. It was the catch from Suryakumar Yadav that led India to their second T20 World Cup victory. It was the catch that’s still fresh among the Indian fans even after 14 months. But the former Indian batter, Ambati Rayudu, has reignited the debate on the legality of the catch against South Africa in Barbados.

Suryakumar Yadav was standing at long-on when David Miller clubbed the first ball of the last over from Hardik Pandya in that direction. But the Mumbai-born held his nerves and grabbed the special catch. But many reckoned that the foot had brushed the rope, which was kept a few inches inside its normal place.

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“There were world feed commentators. During the break, they usually put a chair and a screen there for broadcasters. That’s why the rope was pushed back a little. But after the screen and chair were removed, it was left that way. The boundary ended up being a bit bigger for us. We could see it clearly from above. It was god’s plan.” Rayudu expressed during a recent interaction on a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra.

Ambati Rayudu sparks debate on Suryakumar Yadav’s catch in T20 World Cup 2024

The ICC playing conditions define the actual story of the boundary, where the 19.3 section specifies that “If a solid object used to mark the boundary is disturbed for any reason, then the boundary shall be considered to be in its original position.” On the 19.3.2 law, it further adds “If a solid object used to mark the boundary is disturbed for any reason, the object shall be returned to its original position as soon as is practicable.”

Ambati Rayudu – "The broadcaster indirectly helped Surya with that catch if the rope was inside it was a clear six."

Later he covered it up by saying God was with us. Is this guy indirectly taking a dig at India’s T20 World Cup win?Why has he been so salty in the last 1 year 🙁 pic.twitter.com/mWf67iaUHK

— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) August 18, 2025

“I don’t know if it was a six (in natural incidents) or not. If the rope had been placed at its normal position, maybe Surya would’ve run from inside.” Rayudu later looked to calm down the aspect.” The Hyderabad-born addressed.

Suryakumar Yadav later became the new T20I captain of the Blue Brigade after Rohit retired from the shortest format of the game after lifting the title. He will eye to defend their trophy during the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

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.

On this day in 2024, the Men in Blue returned victorious after crushing South Africa in a high-voltage final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. It was a euphoric moment for the fans and the entire nation as the Indian team finally managed to end their title drought by securing their first ICC World Cup title in 13 years. 

After being crowned as the T20 World Cup champions on June 29, the team was destined to touch down in Mumbai. Once the news about the Indian team's arrival broke out, preparations were underway in full swing as the fans gathered around in anticipation to welcome their World Cup heroes in Mumbai's iconic Marine Drive. As it turned out, the event turned out to be quite a spectacle as fans in colossal numbers turned up to surround the Indian cricket team during their victory (bus) parade.

See also: T20 World Cup winning team members to be honored in Maharashtra State Assembly

Victory parade show in Marine Drive

THIS HAPPENED "OTD" LAST YEAR AT THE MARINE DRIVE IN MUMBAI. 🥶🇮🇳

- One of the Most Iconic in Sporting History..!!! pic.twitter.com/5TAXjPuwBC

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) July 4, 2025

The Indian cricketers were greeted very generously as soon as they touched down on Indian soil. To treasure this historic moment and to celebrate the Indian team's success, a victory parade event was planned along the famous Marine Drive from Nariman Point to the Wankhede Stadium. A sea of Indian fans in blue emerged along one of Mumbai's most iconic destinations.  

The event kicked off following the Indian team's arrival around 4:30 PM local time. With the Indian team out in their bus, it took them no time to get surrounded by an army of passionate Indian fans. Fans from all walks of life jostled to capture a frame with the Indian team. Key icons of Indian cricket, namely Rohit Sharma, Rishab Pant, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube, were seen posing with the World Cup silverware on the upper deck of the bus. 

Approximately 300,000 fans lined Marine Drive, bringing traffic to a standstill and creating an electrifying yet chaotic celebration on that day. Quite understandably, the mood was very joyful and festive. With this achievement, the Indian cricket team managed to bolster India's reputation on the global stage. India's T20 World Cup victory parade was an extraordinary spectacle that captured the nation's passion and pride. 

On June 29, 2024, Indian Cricket recorded one of the most glorious moments in its cricketing chapter. For the first time since 2007, India were crowned winners of the 2024 T20 World Cup that was jointly held by the United States (US) and the Caribbean nations. The Blues endured a memorable run and remained unbeaten throughout the entirety of the tournament to thump South Africa in a high-voltage final. 

At present, the Indian cricket team is in the UK to compete in a five-match test series against England. Amidst their busy schedule, team India took some time out to relive the unforgettable moment. Ahead of the second Test in Birmingham, the Indian Test team took a pause to celebrate the first anniversary of their triumphant victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. 

The team gathered around in a local restaurant in Birmingham, which featured some of the heroes from the final, such as Jadeja and Arshadeep. Two massive cakes were brought forward and placed on the table. One had the following inscription "Team India", while the other bore the words "Champions T20 WC 2024". Bumrah led from the front by doing the initial honors. After slicing the cake, the pieces were distributed to the rest of the players, who were gleefully seen feasting on it.  

See also: [WATCH] Rohit Sharma shares emotional video to commemorate India's glorious T20 WC title win

Watch the video:

In Birmingham, bringing in one-year anniversary of #TeamIndia's T20 World Cup 🏆 Triumph!

Core memory 🥹 pic.twitter.com/FUUjbKdnHN

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 29, 2025

The mood was light and festive. Despite suffering a demoralizing defeat in the Headingly Test, the players were seen having a light moment. This informal gathering was not merely a celebration of a trophy; it served as a reminder of the progress this group has made.

After enduring years of heartbreaks in the knockout stages of the ICC events, India eventually overcame the jinx in 2024, securing the silverware that had been out of reach for more than ten years. This moment was particularly gratifying for a generation of players who had borne the burden of expectation and disappointment throughout numerous campaigns.

As the dust settles on India's T20 World Cup anniversary, the attention now shifts to the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series, with the visitors currently trailing by 0-1. It remains to be seen whether this spirited reunion can give the team a much-needed spark to roll back the Bazball-led England in the upcoming Edgbaston Test. 

June 29, 2024, is a day that will be etched in the minds and hearts of every ardent Indian cricket fan. On this day, India lifted the T20 World Cup trophy for the first time since 2007 by beating South Africa in an epic thriller. In a showdown where it all seemed to be getting out of hand, Rohit Shama & Co. scripted a miraculous comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Years of sorrow and heartbreak were finally put to rest as India clinched their maiden ICC title since 2013. 

To relive this glorious moment, the former Indian skipper posted a heartwarming video on his Twitter (Now X) account that has instantly won many hearts. Rohit himself was the center of attraction in that video, where he was heard saying that he was proud to have achieved something special. Besides, sporadic visuals of other cricketing icons such as Kohli, Axar, and Bumrah also surfaced from the video. 

See also: WATCH: Rohit Sharma spotted vacationing in Italy with wife Ritika Sajdeh amid India vs England Test series

Watch the video:

Instagram post of Captain Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma tried his best to include everyone in the video, but saar saar he is insecure.

pic.twitter.com/6bYlTq0PwC

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) June 29, 2025

India managed to remain unbeaten in that tournament and won all their games, including the final against South Africa. It was a terrific turnaround for the Men in Blue and a massive moment for the country. Not long ago, India faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 in their backyard. But Rohit's 'never-back-down' attitude helped India rise from the ashes and quash the knockout jinx once and for all.

India and South Africa locked horns in a high-voltage final in Bridgetown, Barbados. Both teams entered the final on the back of an unbeaten winning streak. The epic final saw a lot of fascinating moments. From Kohli's crucial fifty (albeit at a slower rate) to Suryakumar Yadav's match-winning catch, the match had everyone on the edge of their seats. 

Moreover, Bumrah's match-defining over, where he picked up two crucial wickets inside an over, probably proved to be a turning point in the game. With only 30 runs needed in the final five overs, no one would have anticipated India to make such a daring comeback. Bumrah emerged as a true hero in such a dire time and concluded the tournament as the highest wicket-taker maintaining an economy rate of less than 4.5 RPO.

Rohit Sharma's on-field brilliance has done wonders for Indian cricket in recent years. Apart from his batting prowess, which has brought continued entertainment to his fan base, Rohit's tactical brilliance has powered the national side to some miraculous wins in ICC events, the most famous of which came against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. 

In a recent discussion with JioHotsar, the former Indian skipper offered some interesting insights on how his bowlers went about defending a low score of 120. India were bowled out for a shocking 119 in the first innings on a difficult batting surface, which many experts believed to be two-paced. While India's imminent defeat seemed highly probable, Rohit and his men refused to give up. 

The 38-year-old explained how he took the pitch out of the equation to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. At the time, Rohit was aware of the surface's sluggish nature and wanted Pakistan to chase. Everything seemed to be falling in place for him. Furthermore, he added that he had immense faith in his prime bowlers - Arshdeep and Bumrah to come good in this low-scoring thriller. 

See also: Rohit Sharma posts "Forever grateful" as he completes 18 years for India

Watch the video:

Rohit Sharma on defending 120 Vs Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup. 🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/VPlyepWZfi

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 26, 2025

As fate would have it, India successfully managed to pull the Green Shirts back from a commanding position. Pakistan seemed to be cruising to victory at 57-1 at the halfway stage. But the departure of Usman Khan offered a slim window of opportunity to make a daring comeback. Pakistan kept losing wickets thereafter as Bumrah accounted for three wickets while going at less than 4 RPO. 

During the middle phase of the run chase, the runs had virtually dried up, and the Pakistani lower order, featuring the likes of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim, struggled to break from the shackles. In the end, the target got too big for Pakistan as they required 18 off the final over. Arshdeep applied the finishing touches by successfully defending 18 in that over despite taking a few blows from Naseem Shah. 

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India remained unbeaten in that tournament and eventually triumphed in the T20 WC Final against South Africa, thus ending a 11-year-long ICC title drought. 

South Africa, at last, have managed to overcome their ICC knockout jinx by clinching their maiden ICC title win in nearly 27 years. The Proteas' opening batter Aiden Markram played an instrumental role in propelling the Rainbow Nation on the path of glory on the back of his resilient match-winning knock of 136. With the WTC Final coming to an end, Markram opened up about how South Africa's painful T20 World Cup Final defeat last year inspired him to strive for glory. 

Being the captain of the South African side at that time, South Africa came agonizingly close to clinching their maiden T20 World Cup title, but just threw it away in the dying moments of the run chase to fall seven runs short. A year later, the 30-year-old ensured that there was no stone left unturned. 

See also: Watch: South Africa lifts Test mace after winning WTC Final 2025

Markram unravels the key motivating factor behind his match-winning knock

While speaking about his heroic knock during the post-match presentation, Markram took the clock back to 2024 and reflected on how hopeless he and his entire team felt when they crashed out of the T20 World Cup final against India. Knowing that the team was within touching distance of creating glory, and to meet such a disappointing end was certainly a tough pill for the SA skipper to swallow. 

But an inner voice from within gave him the faintest of encouragements, making him feel that it was probably not a great idea to sit in one place and sulk your life away over a defeat.

"I thought a lot about the T20 World Cup last night and how hopeless I felt sitting on the side after getting out. I was like, I don't want to sit there again. So, this gave me a bit of motivation to make sure I stayed at the crease, if I could. But never once thought about the achievements and what would come with it. It was always about just trying to get the job done and trying to win."

Markram responded with force and resilience when South Africa took the field in the second innings. The team, after being annihilated for 138 in the first innings, had a lot of catching up to do against a quality pace attack from Australia. Markram soaked in a lot of pressure early doors and forged a defiant 147-run stand to roll back the Australian aggression.

Markram offered the bulk of the resistance and produced one of the most epic innings of the ICC finals, scoring 136 off 207 to power his side to a five-wicket win. While doing so, Markram is now the third batter to have a century against Australia in an ICC final, after Clive Llyod and Aravinda de Silva.

Indian cricket fans will never forget the final over of the 2024 ICC T20 World  Cup, it was so heart stopping. In the final over, with South Africa needing 16 runs to  win, David Miller, their most destructive batter, was on the crease. It was tense. And then there was the catch, the incredible grab by Suryakumar Yadav at the  boundary, a moment that sealed India’s victory and their second T20 World Cup title, after 17  long years.        

Suryakumar Yadav on His Match-Winning Catch: “I Watch  It Every Hour”

In his words: How he feels about his game changing moment,  Suryakumar Yadav opened up on.

“I watch it every hour. I get a lot of chances to  use my phone and I watch it a lot of times and I am very grateful.”

This statement shows  how much the significance of his catch is not only to him but to millions of Indian cricket fans who  watched history being created.

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The Game-Changing Catch

The turning point moment occurred in the last over bowled by Hardik Pandya. David Miller, who has a reputation of winning games for his team, smashed a massive shot in the direction of long-off. For a brief moment, Indian hearts stopped beating. But then suddenly, Suryakumar Yadav judged the jump to perfection, caught the ball, and kept himself inside the boundary rope—giving India a dismissal that shattered the dreams of South Africa.

India went on to win the final seven runs, courtesy of exceptional death bowling by Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Pandya, but Suryakumar's catch was the standout moment that will be remembered.

The Power of Fitness and Reflexes

That one spectacular catch didn't come through luck-it was a product of intense fitness practice and quick reflexes. The speed, quickness, and accuracy of Suryakumar Yadav bespeak the superlative state of fitness which contemporary cricketers enjoy. From grueling exercise routines to specific field practice, players pump in lots of money into the fitness regimen just to achieve something like that on the field. 

Social Media Buzz and Fan Engagement

In the digital age, sensational sporting moments don't remain on the pitch-they burst on the internet. Yadav's catch went viral the moment it happened, with millions of fans posting, debating, and rejoicing over it on social media. Such moments enable cricketers to establish their brand, grow fan base, and make the sport even more exciting for global viewers.

Also See : Varanasi Fans Perform Aarti and Pray for Team India’s Victory in Champions Trophy Final

The year 2024 will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of Indian cricket fans. It's been a year of accomplishments and significant milestones for India. The Indian cricket team punched way above their weight and gave its fans countless memories to cherish. From winning the World Cup to scripting record-shattering performances, the year 2024 has been a year of domination from the Men in Blue.

As the year draws to a close, let's rewind the clock for a brief moment to revisit some of India's glorious cricketing moments from 2024. 

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T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean

Perhaps the most cherished memory of them all is India's emphatic T20 World Cup win in the West Indies. India remained unbeaten in all the games and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in one of the most unbelievable manner to defeat South Africa in the final. After narrowly missing out on the ODI World Cup last year, all that the Men in Blue were aspiring for was to bring the World Cup back home, and they did so with flying colours. Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the player of the tournament and finished as the highest wicket-taker. He delivered a number of match-winning performances throughout the course of the tournament and will often be remembered for his performances against South Africa and Pakistan which India were destined to lose at one stage.

4-1 hammering to England at home

This series win will go into the record books as one of the most convincing Test series win for India. After crashing out in the first Test in Hyderabad, India staged a comeback from behind and went the next four Test matches to seal the series 4-1. India were up against a battle-hardened "Bazzball" inspired English team and turning the tide after a heavy defeat in Hyderabad was never going to be an easy affair. That series saw the birth of two superstars - Dhurv Jurel & Akash Deep. Jurel played a crucial innings on a turning track to see India home and help them clinch the series in the Ranchi Test. Akash Deep was an extraordinary find with the ball and delivered an inspiring performance on his debut to help India win the last Test of the series.

Record-breaking home series against Bangladesh

In this series, the Indian top-order batters put on an exhibition of brute force and insane hitting. The memories of the Kanpur Test fill the fans with unparalleled joy as India made a game out of it and even went on to win that match in less than two days. After restricting Bangladesh to 233, Indian openers went on a rampage and smashed the record for scoring the fastest team 50,100,150, 250 & 250 in Test cricket. It took them just a little over a session to post 285 runs. Bangladesh were weakened after sustaining such an onslaught and later capitulated for 146 in the second innings giving India a paltry target of 96 runs. More records were broken in the T20I series when India blasted their way to a record 297 posting the highest-ever T20I score of all-time by a full-member nation. 

A smashing 4-1 T20I series win against South Africa 

The bilateral T20I series between South Africa and India came to a dramatic close with India winning it handsomely by 4-1. A number of records were broken during the course of the fourth match at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday. From posting the highest total against South Africa (283) to an awe-inspiring partnership between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, India had stung South Africa like never before. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma posted the highest-ever partnership of 210 runs for India for any wicket in T20Is. Besides, Samson in 2024 became the first player ever to score three T20I hundreds in a calendar year. In addition, Tilak Varma also hogged the limelight in that series and became the second Indian to score back-to-back centuries in T20Is

India's massive 295-run win against Australia in Perth

India's record-breaking win in the Perth Test has been the only memory that has been worth cherishing in what has so far been a dismal Test series for India. Leading into the Border Gavaskar Trophy series (2024-25) after a demoralizing series whitewash against the Black Caps at home, this 295-run win gave India a tremendous lift at the start of the series. This was also one of their biggest win against Australia in Test cricket in terms of runs margin. India were without the services of their ace batter Rohit Sharma and the captaincy baton was passed on to Jaspirt Bumrah who had very limited experience in captaincy. After being bowled out for 150, Bumrah led the pace attack from the front and bagged a magnificent five-for to derail Australia for 104. Then Jaiswal and Rahul mounted a serious assault on the Aussie bowlers and on the back of a massive 201-run opening stand, India were able to set a near-impossible target of 534 runs and effectively bat Australia out of the game.

Team India registered a thrilling win over South Africa to clinch the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown in Barbados on June 29. Following the win, Team India gave the best fielder award as always and this time none other than Suryakumar Yadav received it for his stunning boundary line catch.

Notably, Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning effort near the boundary line almost turned the table in India’s favour and the number 1 ranked T20I batter got rewarded for his heroics as well. South Africa looked comfortable to win the match, with 30 runs needed from 30 balls, when Suryakumar Yadav grabbed the stunner to dismiss David Miller. The catch was truly match-defining as after that, South Africa failed to return to the game.

SEE ALSO: Rahul Dravid gets the perfect send-off from the team, says, “I tried my best whenever I played”

However, BCCI honourary secretary Jay Shah joined the Indian players in the dressing room for the ‘best fielder’ medal ceremony. Fielding coach T Dilip as always applauded the effort from everyone in the team as he thanked Jay Shah for joining them as well. The BCCI secretary then gave Suryakumar Yadav his ‘best fielder’ medal and he was happy to flaunt that medal, as well.

“He would have already taken 50 catches like that in the practice…The awareness of the rope is very important and having the confidence that he can throw it and catch it. It was a decision-making moment at that point of time…,” India’s fielding coach T Dilip said on Suryakumar’s catch after the game.

After the win, Rohit Sharma, India Captain said: “Very hard to sum up what we have been through for the last 3-4 years. To be honest, we worked very hard as individuals and as a team a team, lot has gone on behind the scenes for us to be here today and win this game. It is not what we did today, it is what we have been doing for the last 3-4 years. That’s the the result that has come for us today. We have played lots of high pressure games in the past as well and have been on the wrong side as well. But the guys understand what needs to be done. Today was the perfect example of when the back is against the wall, what is required.”