In the climactic final over of the T20 World Cup 2024, Suryakumar Yadav executed a pivotal catch that proved decisive in India‘s triumph. Positioned near the boundary, Suryakumar leapt to intercept a powerful shot from David Miller, releasing the ball before crossing the ropes, then re-entering the field to complete the catch. The third umpire reviewed the catch extensively, ultimately ruling in favour of India, contributing significantly to their seven-run victory over South Africa.
Emergence of controversy: Suryakumar Yadav’s catch
Despite the match-winning nature of Suryakumar’s catch, controversy quickly arose post-match. Various videos surfaced online, suggesting that the 33-year-old’s foot may have made contact with the boundary cushion during the catch. This initial speculation led to widespread debate and scrutiny over the catch’s legality, with fans and media dissecting every angle and frame of the footage available.
Sunil Gavaskar’s vigorous defense
Sunil Gavaskar, an esteemed figure in Indian cricket, vehemently defended Suryakumar against skepticism, particularly from Australian media outlets. In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar criticized the doubters and highlighted the absurdity of questioning such a pivotal moment in the game. He pointed out that all available replays clearly depicted Suryakumar executing a skilful catch within the boundaries of fair play, dismissing any allegations of impropriety.
“There was also a question raised in an Australian paper about the fairness of the catch that Suryakumar Yadav took to dismiss David Miller in the final. All the replays were quite clear that SKY had done a marvellous balancing act as he took the catch and flicked the ball up in the air before he crossed the boundary rope and then jumped in the air and caught the ball within the boundary to complete a fabulous catch,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
“Nobody questioned the catch, but the writer of the article did. He may be interested to see the video floating around of the 10 most blatant cheating acts done by the Aussies before trying to point a finger at SKY. Pot calling the kettle black indeed,” Gavaskar concluded.
Also READ: “Won’t forget Suryakumar Yadav’s catch till my last breath”: Irfan Pathan breaks down post India’s win over South Africa in T20 World Cup 2024 final
Debunking misconceptions with new evidence
Amidst the controversy, additional footage captured by mobile cameras from spectators in the stadium emerged, providing fresh perspective on the incident. This new evidence definitively showed that Suryakumar’s feet were well clear of the boundary rope when he took the catch. The clarity provided by these new angles put to rest lingering doubts and misconceptions, reinforcing the legitimacy of Suryakumar’s crucial contribution to India’s victory.
Thoes who doubted Surya Kumar Yadav catch should watch this video.
Its a proof of cleanest catch. pic.twitter.com/C8FiJotir7
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) July 4, 2024
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