‘Commentators pushed rope back unintentionally’: Rayudu on SKY’s controversial T20 WC final catch | WATCH

To be very frank, the thrill and excitement of India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 at Kensington Oval are yet to subside. As we all know, this was followed by India's thumping Champions Trophy win in March earlier this year — a testament to Rohit Sharma's captaincy and Team India's consistency and dominance in world cricket.

However, a particular incident in the match — Suryakumar Yadav's splendid boundary catch to dismiss David Miller, which many consider the turning point — was marred by controversy, as several observed that the boundary rope seemed to have been pushed back from its normal position. Several conspiracy theories spiralled around the catch, but none were significant enough to undermine India’s emphatic win.

But garnering considerable traction, former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has now offered a fresh perspective on one of the most talked-about moments from the T20 World Cup 2024 final — Suryakumar Yadav’s dramatic boundary catch which ‘literally’ helped India clinch the title against South Africa.

Speaking on the Unfiltered Podcast, Rayudu revealed that the boundary rope had been unintentionally pushed back earlier in the day when broadcast equipment such as a chair and screen were placed near it. Although the items were later removed, the rope was not restored to its original position, effectively leaving the boundary slightly deeper than usual. Rayudu, who was part of the commentary team during the match, said this change was visible from the commentary box and played a role in the catch.

The moment was crucial, as Miller’s dismissal shifted momentum in India’s favour and is still remembered as one of the defining highlights of the final. While some argued that the ball might have cleared the boundary under normal circumstances, Rayudu maintained that the catch was legitimate and quipped it was probably “God’s plan.”

When asked if fate or skill was the bigger factor, Rayudu admitted uncertainty but insisted that the result was fair. But as a matter of fact, regardless of the rope’s position, Suryakumar’s effort remained extraordinary and decisive. Though the rope controversy had sparked debate among players and fans at the time, the incident eventually faded, with India’s World Cup triumph standing tall as a historic achievement.

The incident is yet another example of controversial moments in big matches, similar to the ODI World Cup final in 2019 between England and New Zealand, when a freak fielding deflection off Martin Guptill’s throw, which ricocheted off Ben Stokes’ bat and raced to the boundary, resulted in six runs being awarded. (With inputs from Agencies)