Rohit Sharma reveals significance behind eating pitch soil in T20 World Cup final

India’s cricket team celebrated a historic win as they secured the T20 World Cup 2024 title by defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final held in Barbados. This victory marks India’s first ICC trophy since 2013 and makes them the third team, after West Indies and England, to win the T20 World Cup twice.

A unique moment from the celebrations that caught everyone’s attention was when India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, was seen eating a piece of soil from the pitch. Many were curious about why he did this, and Sharma has now shared the reason behind his unusual action.

In an interview with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sharma explained that his action was spontaneous and a way to cherish the moment. He expressed that the pitch held a special significance for him and the team, as it was the very ground where they achieved their World Cup victory.

"I don’t think I can describe that as nothing was scripted. Whatever was coming [out] instinctively I was feeling the moment when I went to the pitch, because that pitch gave us this [victory], we played on that particular pitch and we won the game on that particular ground as well," Sharma said.

He emphasized the importance of the pitch and the stadium, saying that he wanted to keep a piece of it as a memory of their remarkable achievement.

“I will remember that ground forever in my life and that pitch as well. So, I wanted to have a piece of it with me. Yeah, those moments are very, very special and the place where all our dreams came true, I wanted something of it. So that was the feeling behind it," he further added.

India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup is particularly significant as the team had faced several disappointments in ICC tournaments since their last win in the Champions Trophy 2013. They had lost five finals, including the T20 World Cup 2014, Champions Trophy 2017, World Test Championship 2021 and 2023, and the ODI World Cup 2023.