Rohit Sharma’s exceptional performance has played a crucial role in India’s advancement to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. His sublime display of skills, particularly his commitment to an aggressive style of play, has been evident for a considerable period of time. Although his contributions have been intangible thus far, they deserve recognition. However, in the upcoming five days, there is a possibility that his efforts will materialize into an ICC trophy.
During a sunny morning in St Lucia, India’s captain showcased his brilliance by scoring 76 runs through boundaries out of his total of 92 runs, leaving Australia with no escape. His exceptional play even forced Australia into making mistakes. The team’s total score of 205, which shattered several records, proved to be insurmountable. This remarkable achievement also provided protection against Travis Head, which has been an uncommon occurrence in recent times. While Australia may still have a chance to secure a spot in the final four, they are reliant on Bangladesh defeating Afghanistan (by non-colossal margins) in the match scheduled later on Monday in St Vincent.
Rohit’s rampage
On November 19, he had the opportunity to lead his team to victory, but instead, he left the field with tears in his eyes. However, on June 24, he faced the possibility of reliving that pain when his opening partner and close friend, Virat Kohli, was dismissed for zero. While some may have hesitated, Rohit Sharma took on the challenge and scored an impressive 29 runs off Mitchell Starc’s over. In just five overs, he had already reached a score of 50 off 19 balls, while his partner at the other end had only contributed 2 runs off 13 balls. This remarkable feat made India’s total score of 52 the lowest at which an individual player had achieved a half-century in T20Is with ball-by-ball data. It is worth noting that Rohit Sharma was not playing in this match.
Pitch it up and get punished
Australia, however, played right into Rohit’s hands. Starc, for instance, persisted with full deliveries. It is his primary responsibility. He aimed to generate swing and target the stumps. However, at the Daren Sammy Stadium, that length was ineffective. Josh Hazlewood set the example. He only bowled full twice throughout his spell, both of which were yorkers. The rest of his deliveries were either on a good length or slightly short, resulting in figures of 1 for 14. Rohit was given the opportunity to play his front-foot shots 24 times, accumulating 71 runs, which included seven sixes and five fours out of his total of seven and eight respectively.
Rohit’s shots
During Rohit’s time at the crease, six out of the 11 overs he faced resulted in double-digit runs. His batting resembled his performance in ODI cricket, reminiscent of when he scored an unbeaten 200. He executed a remarkable slog sweep against Pat Cummins, who had recently achieved back-to-back hat-tricks, hitting a six that landed on the stadium roof. Rohit’s smooth footwork was evident as he elegantly struck Marcus Stoinis over extra cover. While attempting a scoop shot, he unintentionally played a pull shot, showcasing a new addition to his batting repertoire. Every move he made seemed to work in his favor, including a simple defensive push to cover that caused Australia to misfield and concede an extra run.
Starc’s recovery
India hit 10 boundaries and 10 maximums while Rohit was batting. However, after his dismissal, they could only add nine more to their tally. Starc played a crucial role in restricting the scoring rate. By altering his line and length in the 12th over, he prevented Rohit from playing freely. Despite maintaining his full deliveries, Starc managed to vary his pace, resulting in a breakthrough. Suryakumar Yadav also fell victim to Starc’s slower ball, disrupting his impressive innings. Cummins was unfortunate to concede boundaries, including a ball that ended up as a six. Although India faced a dry spell without boundaries, Pandya’s late onslaught with three sixes in the final two overs propelled them past the 200-run mark.
Head start
In the opening over of the chase, David Warner unfortunately fell, raising concerns that his quick 6 off 6 might mark the end of his international career. However, Australia still had capable batsmen who could dominate the game. Mitchell Marsh displayed his prowess by hitting Arshdeep Singh for two fours and a six in a single over, while Head outperformed by successfully striking Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball. This forced the Indian team to switch to their backup plan of bowling yorkers, but even under pressure, Bumrah missed one and bowled a full toss. At the end of the powerplay, Australia stood at 65 for 1, surpassing India by five runs. Marsh’s powerful gameplay and Head’s remarkable ability to clear his front leg and create opportunities on both sides of the outfield completely changed the dynamics of the match.
Axar’s sensational catch
India was in need of a game-changer, and that’s exactly what they got with the arrival of Axar Patel. Positioned a bit far from the boundary at deep square leg, it seemed risky with Marsh at the crease. However, the slog sweep came off Marsh’s bat with power and precision, appearing destined for a six. Even a support staff member was seen taking cover, anticipating the ball to clear the fielder. Yet, Axar had other plans. He jumped up, reached out with both hands, and managed to grab the ball with his right hand only. It was a crucial catch that had to be held, and Axar did just that. His teammates rushed to him in celebration, as the partnership of 81 runs off 48 balls was abruptly ended, against the flow of the game.
Kuldeep’s intervention
Glenn Maxwell effectively neutralized India’s spinners’ advantage by observing the absence of a fielder at third man for Ravindra Jadeja. This prompted him to execute a reverse sweep, hitting with the turn but against the wind. Despite the challenging conditions, Maxwell’s skillful wrists allowed him to maintain control. His aggressive approach hinted at a potential showdown with Kuldeep Yadav. However, his attempt to take on India’s wristspinner resulted in him being bowled out. The deceptive googly bowled by Yadav showcased its brilliance, causing Maxwell to struggle on multiple fronts. The delivery was slower, shorter, and turned in the opposite direction, leaving Maxwell’s stumps in disarray. The dip on the ball added to its effectiveness.
India capitalized on this momentum by claiming two wickets in the next three overs, including Bumrah deceiving Head with an offcutter. Despite needing 53 runs from the final 18 balls, Australia could only narrow the margin of defeat.