Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has explained his unusual celebration of eating soil from the pitch after India’s T20 World Cup victory.
The act, which took social media by storm, followed India’s seven-run win over South Africa at the Kensington Oval stadium in Barbados on 29 June.
In an interview with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sharma described the moment as entirely spontaneous.
“I don’t think I can describe it as nothing was scripted. Whatever was coming out, I was feeling the moment,” Sharma said.
A post shared by ICC (@icc)
Sharma highlighted the significance of the pitch and stadium in their victory.
“That pitch gave us this victory, we played on that particular pitch and we won the game on that ground,” he said. “I wanted to have something of it with me.”
Reflecting on the emotional significance, Sharma added, “I will remember that ground forever in my life and that pitch as well. Those moments are very special, and the place where all our dreams came true, I wanted something of it.”
Sharma’s soil-eating act may have surprised many, but it underlines the heartfelt gratitude and emotional intensity of India’s long-awaited ICC trophy win after 11 years.
