The celebrations after India’s thrilling T20 World Cup victory over South Africa were a sight to behold. While emotions ran high for the entire team, skipper Rohit Sharma‘s unique gesture resonated deeply with fans.

A captain’s touch: More than just a win

Though Rohit’s batting performance on the day was not up to the mark (scoring only 9 runs), his captaincy tactics proved pivotal in India’s comeback victory. Despite a shaky start, India, led by Virat Kohli’s brilliant 76, managed to post a competitive total of 176/7.

South Africa’s chase initially looked promising, with Heinrich Klaasen putting up a strong fight. However, the bowling trio of Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh stepped up in the latter stages, securing a nail-biting seven-run win for India.

A symbolic gesture: Eating the soil and showing gratitude

In a heartwarming video posted by the ICC, Rohit was seen on the Kensington Oval pitch, not just celebrating, but also taking a bite of the grass.

This seemingly simple act held a deeper meaning.

“Nothing was scripted; it was all coming instinctively,” Rohit explained later. He spoke about the Barbados pitch being a key factor in India’s victory, a place etched in his memory forever. Eating a speck of soil became a way for him to carry a part of this historic win with him, a physical reminder of a dream come true.

“I was feeling the moment…because that pitch gave us this (T20 World Cup), we played on that particular pitch and we won the game on that particular ground, I will remember that ground and that pitch forever in my life.

So I wanted to have a piece of it with me. Those moments are very, very special; and the place where all our dreams came true, I wanted something of it. That was the feeling behind it,” said Rohit in a video released by BCCI.

A moment of pure emotion

Rohit’s emotional state was evident not only in his gesture but also in the tears shed after the match. His act transcended the realm of mere celebration; it was a heartfelt tribute to the ground that witnessed their triumph and a symbol of his deep connection to the game.