Team manager Lalchand Rajput's joy knew no bounds after India upset hosts South Africa to enter the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup in Durban on Thursday night.
"It was a tremendous effort by the boys. Firstly, we finished as the number one team in the group; and because we knocked out South Africa, it was special," Rajput told rediff.com over phone from Durban on Friday.
India beat South Africa by 37 runs in a do-or-die encounter to set up a meeting with Australia in the second semi-final on Saturday.
For India, 20-year-old Rohit Sharma was the star of the show as he scored an unbeaten 50, batting in his first match of the tournament. He was deservedly named the man of the match.
"In the last match against England, he was in the team, but he did not get to bat. But here he got his opportunity and showed that he deserved his place in the team," Rajput said.
He also complimented captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who played a solid knock of 45 and made sure that India ended up with a healthy total of 153 for five in their 20 overs.
"It was a very important knock by Dhoni. He played a captain's innings and rescued us after those early wickets in the company of Rohit," he said.
With the ball, India, spearheaded by R P Singh's superb spell of 4 for 13, ripped the South Africa batting apart. In fact, the hosts were never in with a chance of getting to the 125 runs they needed to secure entry into the last four.
"Our bowlers were fantastic today. All our bowlers did well, especially R P Singh who got crucial wickets. It was a complete team effort and even our fielding was superb," Rajput said.
He went on to add that the team was delighted with the outcome and would celebrate in style.
"We are currently playing the Chak De! India song in the dressing room; the boys are dancing to it. Later we will go out for dinner and celebrate with wine and champagne."
