 "Rohit Sharma's merciless batting approach against Australia played a huge role in India reaching the T20 World Cup semi-finals. AP")
It wasn’t meant to be for Australia. A team that had come into the 2024 T20 World Cup as one of the favourites may have just lost steam at the wrong time. So much so that, they had no answers once Rohit Sharma went on a rampage after India were put in to bat on a St Lucia pitch which had produced some of the highest scores in T20Is in the recent past.
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The result: A 24-run win for India over Australia which wasn’t perfect but somewhat avenged the ODI World Cup final defeat in Ahmedabad last year, when Travis Head broke the heart of a billion Indian fans. He almost did it once again in St Lucia, only this time there was Rohit for India, and his knock of 92 in 41 deliveries eventually made all the difference.
At one stage, India’s bowlers lacked rhythm. Hardik Pandya was leaking runs to Travis Head in the middle overs and more so, was being punished for his back-of-a-length deliveries against the Australia opener. Arshdeep Singh, despite taking three wickets, was expensive in a couple of overs.
But in the end, the aggressive onslaught from Rohit which came at the start proved to be enough for India. There were concerns regarding the captain’s form leading up to the T20 World Cup, but it’s safe to say that they have been eased off now.
Rohit buries ghosts of Ahmedabad with merciless knock
19 November 2023 is a date that many an Indian would want to forget, yet, the haunting memories of that night remain fresh in the minds. Fast forward seven months, India and Australia once again locked horns in an ICC tournament, this time, in the game’s shortest format.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA 21-run loss to Afghanistan just a few days ago meant that this match against India was a must-win clash for the former champions. However, after winning the toss, captain Mitchell Marsh called to field first, just like the 2023 final, but he was soon made to regret the decision on the batter-friendly pitch.
Check out: 10 best pictures from India’s win over Australia
In that ODI World Cup final against Australia, a mistimed shot from Rohit towards Travis Head at cover ended his innings on 47. On Monday, Rohit took out the frustration on Aussie bowlers with some merciless batting.
Simply put, the Indian captain made Australian bowlers dance to his tunes. Be it his slog sweep against Adam Zampa, or his all-out attack against Mitchell Starc in the third over where he went for 29 runs.
That over wherein Rohit slammed three sixes and a four, was the beginning of a long day for the Aussies.
Yes, Rohit did lose his opening partner Virat Kohli for a five-ball duck and just after Rohit had taken off, rain made its entry. However, the mini-break hardly affected the Nagpur-born cricketer’s rhythm.
Once the match resumed, Rohit picked up from where he left off. He collected a couple of boundaries off Pat Cummins’ over in the fifth, before racing to his fifty with a single, a milestone that came off just 19 balls.
After Starc and Cummins failed, it was Marcus Stoinis’ turn to provide Australia some respite, but there was hardly any with an in-form Rohit in the middle. Stoinis’ over had everything that you would want to witness during a Rohit Sharma classic — a heave through midwicket for four, plus two sixes, one of which was fired over the deep backward square leg.
Read: The Axar Patel catch that turned the match for India at windy St Lucia
Starc finally had the last laugh when in the 12th he delivered a yorker from around the wicket and Rohit had no answer to that whatsoever as he was clean bowled for 92.
On paper, the Mumbai cricketer may not have got to a century but the kind of shots he played during the knock and the innings in itself carries the weight of a century. Because in the end, that’s how deserving his knock was not just for himself, but for the Men in Blue as a whole given how he led from the front by example.
There was the wind factor too. The wind was blowing across high speeds in the aftermath of showers early in the morning, which meant Rohit had to target the off-side a lot more during the knock.
“I thought right from over number one, there was a strong breeze blowing across. They changed their plan, bowling against the breeze, so I realised I had to open up the off side as well,” said Rohit after the match.
“You’ve got to factor in the breeze and understand that the bowlers are smart as well and open up all sides of the field. When you keep an open mind and not just think of one shot, you can access all areas of the field.”
Support cast rises
One of the major highlights from India’s campaign in this T20 World Cup has been their batting depth, and once Rohit departed, Suryakumar Yadav (31), Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27*) combined to take them to 205/5, a total that would later prove to be too strong for the Aussies thanks to some brilliant bowling from Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel in the middle overs.
For Australia, Afghanistan’s miraculous win over Bangladesh on Monday night means their T20 World Cup campaign is over as the Afghans make the semi-finals for the first time. And there’s no one else to blame. Mitchell Marsh and Co were not just below par with their bowling, but with their fielding too, with missed chances against both India and Afghanistan.
India, on the other hand, will gear up for their next biggest challenge — a semi-final against England in Guyana on 27 June. Remember 10 November 2022, when India were handed a 10-wicket hammering by Jos Buttler and Co in the T20 World Cup semi-final?
What will happen this time around?
One thing is for sure, there is no room for complacency and there’s no time to sit back, if India are to break their 11-year ICC trophy drought.
An avid sports follower, I have been working with Firstpost for the last four years. If not for sports, movies and music are my other interests.