Rohit Sharma on Rishabh Pant's 'fake injury' during T20 World Cup final: 'Genuinely thought something had happened to him'

Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant (Agency Photos)

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June 29, 2024, will forever be remembered as the day India ended a 11-year wait for an ICC title, winning the T20 World Cup in a nerve-wracking final against South Africa in Barbados. Under Rohit Sharma ’s leadership, India clinched the crown with a narrow seven-run win, sealing a night of high drama and national celebration.One of the most-discussed moments from that epic final came during South Africa’s tense chase. With 30 runs needed off 30 balls, Rishabh Pant suddenly went down, signalling discomfort in his knee. Play stopped.At the time, it looked like a concerning injury, especially given Pant’s recovery from a life-threatening car accident in 2022.Now, a year later, Rohit Sharma has shared fresh insight into that moment, admitting he initially feared the worst.“See, Hardik has come to bowl there. So, we were discussing with Hardik what to do. I didn't know what had happened before. I genuinely thought that something had happened to him. The accident he had, I thought he was just trying to. But actually, it was just to stop the game a little bit. The momentum was with them.So, it was very important to break that. So, I think we went back to that. Eventually, Hardik dismissed Klaasen,” Rohit told Star Sports.Speaking earlier on The Great Indian Kapil Show, Rohit had revealed how Pant’s presence of mind helped India regroup: “When South Africa needed 30 runs off 30 balls, just before that, there was a small break. Pant used his intelligence to pause the game - he had a knee injury, so he had his knee taped, which helped slow down the game - because the game was fast-paced, and at that moment, all a batter wants is the ball to be bowled quickly."But we had to break the rhythm. As I was setting the field and talking to bowlers, suddenly I saw Pant fallen on the ground. The physiotherapist had arrived and was taping his knee. Klassen was waiting for the match to start again. I am not saying it's the only reason, but it could be one of them - Pant Sahab used his smarts and things worked out in our favour.”India’s eventual win not only ended years of ICC heartbreak but also served as an emotional farewell for Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and coach Rahul Dravid. One year on, Pant’s “injury” remains one of the most iconic—and debated—turning points of that unforgettable night.

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