Cricket Interviews: How Suryakumar Yadav Kept His Composure During the Crucial Catch in the T20 World Cup 2024 Final?

In the final over of the match, with the pressure at its peak, Suryakumar held on to a stunning catch that shifted the game firmly in India’s favour. That single moment of brilliance not only sealed the title but also etched itself into the hearts of fans as one of India’s most cherished memories. Today, Suryakumar looks back at that catch with pride, calling it the highlight of his career so far.

What Was Suryakumar Yadav Feeling at the Time of the Catch?

With the Asia Cup going on, Indian cricket fans are still holding on to memories of last year’s T20 World Cup, where the national team produced one of the most dramatic victories in its history. At the center of that win was Suryakumar Yadav, whose remarkable catch in the final against South Africa not only secured the trophy but also elevated his standing in world cricket. Even months later, the moment continues to dominate conversations, as the India T20I captain has openly shared that he relives the catch on a daily basis. The final in Barbados was a tense battle between two teams chasing history.

India, desperate to end their long wait for a world title, set South Africa a competitive target. In response, the Proteas fought hard, and by the time the final over began, the equation was 16 runs required from six balls. With David Miller, one of South Africa’s biggest hitters, on strike, the pressure on the Indian side was immense. Then came the moment that has already become iconic. Miller struck a powerful lofted shot straight down the ground towards long off. Positioned on the boundary, Suryakumar judged the ball perfectly. In that split second, he balanced skill with awareness, catching the ball cleanly while ensuring his feet stayed inside the rope. On this, he said:

I watch it every hour, whenever I get an opportunity to use the phone, I watch it a lot of times and I’m very grateful. I mean, I could get to do something special, for my country that day. If I would have been busy seeing that the ball would have already crossed the boundary. There were a lot of moments in the game and this was one of them, but reaching to that moment after that 30-ball 30.

What could easily have been a match-turning six was instead the dismissal that sealed India’s seven-run victory. The stadium erupted, and millions watching around the world knew they had witnessed a piece of magic that would be remembered for generations. Since then, Suryakumar has admitted that he often watches the replay of the catch, sometimes several times a day, as it reminds him of the significance of his contribution. He has explained that his success in that instant came down to remaining calm and focusing only on the ball, rather than letting the pressure of the occasion overwhelm him. For him, it was more than a piece of athleticism, it was about staying mentally composed when the stakes were highest.

However, he has also been clear that the catch was only possible because of the groundwork laid by India’s bowlers in the death overs. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya produced exceptional spells, applying the brakes on South Africa’s scoring and dragging the contest into the final six deliveries. Without their efforts, the match could easily have slipped away earlier. Suryakumar’s catch, therefore, was the finishing touch to a larger collective performance. He further added:

Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep and Hardik, all the three guys getting us back into the game. And then this moment came of 6-ball 16, and being in that moment and taking that catch. I think you can say that there was a lot of hard work involved behind it by all the 3 bowlers, and then I got an opportunity, otherwise the game would have been over long back.

🗓️ 29th June, 2024
📍 Barbados

A month later, Suryakumar Yadav reflects on 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 👌 & #TeamIndia's glorious 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙝 🏆#T20WorldCup | #Champions | #SLvIND | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/3jrAzN9dQx

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 29, 2024

The effort has drawn parallels with Kapil Dev’s running catch to dismiss Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final, another piece of fielding brilliance that turned a match of enormous importance in India’s favor. Just as Kapil’s effort symbolized the rise of Indian cricket four decades ago, Suryakumar’s leap at long off has become a symbol of the modern team’s spirit and resilience. Since that triumph, Suryakumar has been handed the T20I captaincy and has enjoyed an excellent run as leader, guiding India to consecutive series victories. Yet, despite his new responsibilities, he continues to treasure that one instant which brought the nation its second T20 World Cup crown.

What Went Through Suryakumar Yadav’s Mind When Virat Kohli Sledged Him in an IPL Match?

During his early days of making a name for himself in the IPL, Suryakumar Yadav faced one of the most memorable and tense moments of his career. It happened in the 2020 season during a clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. For Yadav, the game carried extra weight. Just before this match, he had once again been left out of the Indian team for the Australia tour, something that left him disappointed but also motivated to prove his worth. As the game went on, Yadav was batting brilliantly for Mumbai. In one passage of play, he nudged a delivery from Dale Steyn, and the ball made its way straight to RCB captain Virat Kohli.

Known for his fiery presence on the field, Kohli picked up the ball and began walking directly towards Yadav. Instead of avoiding him, Yadav stood tall and kept his eyes fixed. This created one of the most talked-about stare-offs in IPL history. From the stands and on television, Yadav looked completely calm. But later he admitted that inside, he was far from relaxed. As Kohli approached, his heart was racing, but he forced himself not to show any fear. He told himself over and over that no matter what happened, he could not let his focus break. Covering the incident, he said:

That’s his style. His energy level on the ground is always different. And that game was extremely important for both teams so Virat’s sledging was on another level in that match. I was focused on myself, like ‘boss, you cannot lose focus and have to win the match at any cost’. The ball went to him and he made that action from there and it was very instinctive.

The only thing on his mind was to finish the game for Mumbai Indians. Kohli did not stop there. While fielding at slip, he kept on trying to disturb Yadav with his words and presence. Many players would have reacted, but Yadav decided not to say a single thing in return. He kept repeating to himself that silence was the best way to handle the situation. If he stayed quiet and concentrated on batting, the next over would come, and the moment would pass. One small incident helped him escape the pressure. While he was at the crease, his bat slipped and fell to the ground. It gave him a chance to look down and avoid further eye contact with Kohli.

From that point, he made sure to stay focused on his batting and not on the surrounding drama. In the end, Yadav delivered exactly what Mumbai Indians needed. He smashed an unbeaten 79 runs from just 43 balls, guiding his team to victory. The innings was special not only because of the runs, but because of the mental toughness it showed. Despite being under immense pressure, ignored by selectors, and tested by Kohli’s intensity, he managed to keep his cool and lead from the front. After the match, Yadav reflected on the moment and admitted that he was actually scared inside, even though he appeared fearless on the outside. He further added:

I remember I was chewing gum and inside my heartbeat is racing knowing that he is walking at me. He isn’t saying anything, I wasn’t saying anything. I was saying to myself ‘no matter what happens, do not say a word. It’s a matter of 10 seconds. After this, a new over will begin. This won’t last long. So the situation passed. I then saw him right after the match.

He also mentioned that he and Kohli never spoke about the incident again, and it remained one of those unique memories that only happened on the pitch. For Yadav, this match was more than just another performance. It was a lesson in composure and self-belief. Standing his ground against one of the fiercest competitors in world cricket, he proved to himself and to others that he had the mental strength to thrive under pressure. That stare-off, followed by a match-winning knock, became a turning point in his IPL journey and a story fans still remember today.

How Suryakumar Yadav Got the Name “SKY”

The story of how Suryakumar Yadav came to be known as “SKY” is linked to his early days at Kolkata Knight Riders during the 2014 IPL season. Today, the name has become a part of his identity, but back then, he had no idea where it started. While speaking in a chat show, Suryakumar shared that the nickname was given to him by Gautam Gambhir, who was the captain of KKR at the time. During those early matches and practice sessions, Gambhir would often shout “SKY” to call him.

At first, Suryakumar did not even realize that Gambhir was addressing him. He thought it was something unrelated and ignored it a few times. Later, when he finally turned around, Gambhir explained that his initials, Suryakumar Yadav formed the word “SKY.” It was such a simple observation, yet one that stuck with him permanently. From that day, the name spread inside the KKR dressing room and eventually became what fans and fellow cricketers call him today. He said:

I found out about this name much later. I had not paid a lot of attention to it. In 2014 when I went to Kolkata Knight Riders, there Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) started calling me SKY. He called me SKY from behind a couple of times and I didn’t react. When I looked at him he said ‘I am calling you, haven’t you checked out your initials’. That is when I realised it comes out to be SKY. When I left Mumbai Indians and went to KKR in 2014, Gambhir looked at me and felt that he could guide me and put me on the right track and he did that.

Suryakumar also highlighted how important Gambhir was in shaping his career at that stage. Leaving Mumbai Indians in 2014 and moving to Kolkata proved to be a turning point for him. Gambhir not only gave him confidence but also showed him how to approach his game in a more disciplined way. He was guided to focus on his role, sharpen his mindset, and learn how to absorb pressure in crunch moments.

According to Suryakumar, those lessons played a huge role in the steady rise that followed. After making an impact at KKR, he returned to Mumbai Indians where his performances became more consistent. Over the years, his ability to score runs quickly and play innovative shots made him stand out in the IPL.