Who said what - top 5 expert reactions to Suryakumar Yadav's stunning catch in 2024 T20 World Cup final ft. Shaun Pollock

India beat South Africa by seven runs in the final of the recently concluded ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday, June 29. One of the talking points of this game was a stunning catch that Suryakumar Yadav took of David Miller off the first delivery of the final over bowled by Hardik Pandya.

Miller skied a fuller delivery from Pandya towards Yadav at long off; the latter saw the ball coming towards him but also knew that the boundary rope was not far off. He then leapt towards the ball and jumped up to parry it in the air inside the ropes while falling inside it himself.

While the ball was still in the air, he returned to the field of play and collected it with both hands to safely complete the catch. All of this happened in the span of five to seven seconds but decided the course of the game.

With Miller gone, South Africa had no recognized batters left and the game was India's to lose. Pandya, however, kept his calm and bowled five good balls to ensure that the Men in Blue reclaimed the trophy they had last won in 2007.

On that note, in this listicle, we take a look at reactions from five experts from around the world about Yadav's spectacular catch:

#1 Shaun Pollock

Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock, who is one of the legends of the game from his country, congratulated India after their win. He said that the catch by Suryakymar Yadav was one of the best bits of skill he had seen in his life.

Pollock mentioned that although the cushion of the boundary rope had moved a tad, it was not done by Yadav and happened in the course of the game. Speaking to The Times of Karachi, he removed all doubts about the catch's legitimacy.

“The catch was fine. The cushion had moved, but that’s in the course of the game. It had nothing to do with Surya. He didn’t stand on the cushion. Brilliant bit of skill,” Pollock said.

#2 Aakash Chopra

Former India opener Aakash Chopra, who is a cricket pundit these days and holds numerous positions in commentary teams across the world, lauded Yadav for the brilliant piece of skill shown by him.

On his YouTube channel, Chopra also broke down the rules of what constitutes a fair catch and dispelled whatever doubts had been raised by fans across the globe regarding its fairness.

"People said the original white line was visible and it means the skirting would have been pushed behind with the feet. Then I say, nothing was pushed, push your brain a little. Open your mind a little and understand the rules," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"It's absolutely correct that the line is considered the boundary but do you know why the line was ahead of the skirting? It's because there are many pitches on the ground. So when the match shifts from one pitch to another, the boundary ropes are adjusted, and this was not the first match to be played in Barbados," he added.

"So the markings were done for the original pitch, and then you changed them because the ground dimensions are going to change. The moment they change, those lines are left behind, and that's about it, there is nothing more to it," he elaborated.

#3 Dinesh Karthik

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who bid goodbye to the sport after the IPL earlier this year, seemed to be over the moon after watching Yadav take the catch at long off. He called it the 'greatest-ever catch in a final' on his X post.

The former Tamil Nadu and Royal Challengers Bengaluru star also lauded commentator Ian Smith, who was on air at that moment and called it with a touch of emotion to his voice.

“Ian Smith!, If ever you have a big occasion Call him. No one’s ever done it better. The best to call a big moment. Just the emotion in his voice gives you goosebumps And wasn’t that the greatest ever catch in a final !!!!,” wrote Karthik on the social media platform X.

#4 Michael Atherton

Former England captain and Sky Sports commentator Michael Atherton during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and England at BRSABVE Cricket Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Lucknow, India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Former England opener and captain Michael Atherton - a pundit with Sky Sports these days - mentioned that he found Yadav's catch 'brilliant.' He said that he had a good view of the catch as he had come down from the commentary box for a bit.

The former batting technician, just like Dinesh Karthik earlier, mentioned the role that former Kiwi wicketkeeper-batter Ian Smith played on air by calling it as well as anyone would have on air.

"I had a brilliant view of the ball. I was working with the commentary team and had come down for a moment. The way he came around, the athleticism, awareness and composure - it was brilliant. It was brilliantly called by our friend Ian Smith on air," said Atherton.

#5 Nasser Hussain

Former England captain Nasser Hussain and a contemporary of Atherton's, spoke glowingly of the way Yadav dealt with pressure while taking the catch and how the moment impacted India's bid for the World Cup.

The broadcaster, who works with Sky Sports these days, compared Yadav's catch to the extraordinary one Kapil Dev took of Sir Vivian Richards in the final of the 1983 World Cup to win the cup for India.

"We see those catches almost every other game now. It wasn't necessarily the catch, but the way he handled himself under pressure. The context, the moment. It was all about the way he dealt with it," said Hussain.

"I read a tweet last night which said that if SKY's boots were a size larger, perhaps the World Cup would have been South Africa's! Iconic moment, this, and goes right alongside Kapil Dev's catch in the final of the 1983 World Cup," he added.