India’s T20 World Cup victory on Saturday (June 29) was a night of mixed emotions for former Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan. While the nation erupted in celebration, Pathan found himself choked with emotion during his on-air commentary for Star Sports.

A bittersweet return for Irfan Pathan

The 39-year-old had been absent from broadcasting duties for the past few days due to a personal tragedy – the passing away of his hairstylist and close friend Faiyaz Ansari in the West Indies during the tournament.

Pathan’s return to the commentary box on the day of the final coincided with India’s momentous win.

Overcome with a wave of emotions, Pathan broke down in tears, sharing his struggles and the bittersweet nature of the moment. He went on to praise the Indian team’s performance, highlighting Suryakumar Yadav’s match-winning catchwhich he stated would forever be etched in his memory.

“I will not forget Suryakumar Yadav’s catch till my last breath. The Indian team may not know, but you guys know. The last 10 days were extremely hard for me.

These tears of mine are not because I’m sad or things that happened in my life in last 10 days but these are happy tears,” said Pathan.

The emotional outburst resonated with the viewers, offering a glimpse into the personal sacrifices often made behind the scenes in the world of sports.

A hard-fought victory for India

India’s road to victory wasn’t without its hiccups. Early wickets of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Surya Kumar Yadav put them on the back foot.

However, a stellar performance by Virat Kohli (76 runs off 59 balls) and a late flourish by Akhar Patel (47 runs off 31 balls) helped them post a competitive total of 176 runs. Shivam Dube’s cameo of 27 runs also proved impactful.

South Africa’s chase remained promising for a significant part of their innings. Heinrich Klaasen played a dangerous knock, but the Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandyarose to the occasion, stifling the Proteas’ momentum.

With 26 runs needed off 24 balls, South Africa faltered, ultimately falling short by seven runs.

This victory marks India’s second T20 World Cup title, etching their name in cricketing history once again. The celebrations were a sight to behold, tinged with a touch of personal triumph for Irfan Pathan, whose tears became a poignant symbol of the resilience and emotions that lie at the heart of the beautiful game.