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Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Irfan Pathan was overwhelmed with emotions and teared up during a live commentary following India’s thrilling victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team clinched the ICC trophy after an 11-year wait by defeating South Africa by seven runs.
As Hardik Pandya successfully defended 16 runs in the final over, jubilant celebrations erupted among Indian cricket fans worldwide. The emotional outpouring across the country marked the end of a long ICC trophy drought, stirring heartfelt reactions from fans and former players alike.
Irfan Pathan was visibly moved to tears as India ended their ICC trophy drought with a thrilling victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 Final in Barbados. The emotional scenes weren’t confined to the field; they also unfolded in the Hindi commentary box and among fans back home, reflecting the shared intensity of the moment. Pathan, who had been absent from broadcasting due to personal loss following the passing of his hairstylist, Faiyaz Ansari, returned for the finals on June 29.
As India secured the T20 World Cup title with an unbeaten record, Pathan’s emotions overflowed. He spoke candidly about the profound impact of losing Faiyaz, whom he considered a brother, over the past 10 days. His tears, he explained, were a mix of sorrow from recent hardships and tears of joy from India’s triumphant achievement.
During his heartfelt commentary on Star Sports, Pathan expressed deep gratitude and admiration for players like Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav. He highlighted Suryakumar’s crucial catch to dismiss David Miller, emphasizing its significance in potentially turning the match in India’s favor. Pathan stressed the threat Miller posed and how the catch would be etched in his memory forever.
In a personal note, Pathan acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster of the past days and thanked Team India while congratulating his country for the historic win. He clarified that his tears weren’t solely from sadness but also from overwhelming happiness and relief.
Overall, Irfan Pathan’s emotional commentary captured the depth of feeling surrounding India’s T20 World Cup triumph and resonated deeply with fans across the nation.
Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports: “I am thankful to Jasprit Bumrah, I am thankful to Rohit Sharma, I am thankful to Hardik Pandya, and I am thankful to Suryakumar Yadav. I will never forget his catch. Even if I am breathing for the last time, I will remember Suryakumar Yadav’s catch. David Miller is such a dangerous batsman that if he had gone for a six in the first ball, maybe the match would have been over for us.
And the Indian team may not know, —you guys know—that the last 10 days were extremely difficult for me. So, these tears of mine are not just tears of sorrow not because I’m sad or things that happened inmy life, but they are tears of happiness. So, I love you, Team India. Thank you very much. Congratulations to my country.”
