So, this is what happens when Rohit Sharma bats beyond the powerplay in an important World Cup game. A knock of paramount promotions that has pulverized Australia into a pulp and made the memories of 19th November seem a little less gloomy for the time being. Kohli was out without scoring, but Rohit was in the mood from the get go. Starc erred by going too full against Rohit, and the Indian skipper devoured those like a glutton at an all you can eat buffet. He smoked two sixes over covers, and slogged one over mid-wicket to eke out 29 runs off that over. Rohit went on the offensive against Cummins as well, getting to his 50 in 19 balls. Hazlewood however kept things tight as he conceded just 10 off his 3 overs to ensure the powerplay ended at 60/1.
Post that, Zampa was welcomed with a six by Pant and Rohit added another good measure later in the over. Australia however got a claw back as Pant’s leading edge found a fielder off Stoinis’ bowling. India however continued to attack as SKY got going with a six and a four, while Sharma added two more maximums to his name. He looked destined for a century but a superb inswinging yorker from Starc ended the knock at 92. The wicket brought about a period of some control for Australia, as Suryakumar also felll a few overs later after a quick cameo of 32. Hazlewood, Zampa and Cummins bowled a few tight overs as India had a lean patch. Hardik Pandya tried to give the innings some impetus as he smoked two sixes off Stoinis, and helped India climb past 200. The target for Australia will be 206, not many teams has got to that kind of total in the Caribbean, and it will be doubly tough with Bumrah and Kuldeep breathing down your neck.
Suryakumar Yadav: Felt like a dream (watching Rohit Sharma bat), he batted beautifully. We sat together and talked about it before the game and he (Rohit) showed us the way. I think they finished it really well. It’s a good wicket, a good score, we respect it, hopefully there will be something in it for the bowlers. Everyone in the team knows their roles and responsibilities.
15 maximums for India today – the most sixes by them in an inngs in T20 World Cups surpassing 13 they hit in the previous game against Bangladesh in North Sound. It is also the most by a team in this year’s T20 World Cup.
If Australia chase this down inside 15.3 overs, they will qualify for the semis. If not, India are assured of a semifinal spot.
Highest totals for India in T20 World Cups 218/4 vs Eng Durban 2007 210/2 vs Afg Abu Dhabi 2021 205/5 vs Aus Gros Islet 2024 196/5 vs Ban North Sound 2024 Also, the joint highest total against Australia in T20 World Cups equaling West Indies’ 205/4 at Colombo RPS in 2012 semifinals.
India maintain their clean record. They win by 24 runs, asserting a dominant performance against their old foes Australia. They will meet England in the semis. Australia’s dreams of a semi-final slot now rest in the hands of Bangladesh. Infact, an emphatic win for Bangladesh can hand them a ticket to the semis as well. India came into this game as marginal favorites given how clinical they had been in the lead up to this game. And Australia were low on confidence after their loss to Afghanistan. But everyone was aware of Aussies and their prowess in big games. But Rohit batted long enough and batted as if there was no tomorrow. He hammered 29 off Starc in an over and that set the tone. Then cameos from SKY, Dube and Pandya propelled India beyond 200.
Australia started the chase with the loss of Warner in the first over. But Head and Marsh took over. Marsh looked scratchy and got two lives. Head and his love story against India in ICC events continued. He hit a few lusty blows and India were on unfamiliar territory with the ball. But then Marsh lost his wicket to a stunner from Axar in the deep. And things turned again but not before Maxwell gave them a little scare. Once Maxwell fell, the Aussies went down like a lead balloon. Head was still there and continued to hit some timely blows. But India applied the choke and Australia scored only 28 runs between overs 12 to 17. That left too much to do at the end and they won by 24 runs in the end.
Rohit Sharma, Player of the Match: That’s what I have to do (in the powerplay), try and see what the bowlers are doing, play accordingly. They changed their plans and tried to bowl against the breeze. Needed to be smart, was just backing myself to do. You got to understand that bowlers are smart, they are not going to bowl into the breeze. I was thinking to hit everything that was possible. You can access all sides of the field, that is what I was trying to do. It has been a good wicket and you need to back yourself on good wickets, glad that it came off today. I told you that 50s and 100s don’t matter to me. Need to put the bowlers under pressure, and you need big scores for that. I tried to access all sides of the field, not just one side.
Most sixes in a match in T20 World Cups 30 Ire vs Net Sylhet 2014 24 Aus vs Ind Bridgetown 2010 24 Aus vs Ind Gros Islet 2024 22 Aus vs Pak Gros Islet 2010 22 Eng vs SA Wankhede 2016
Most wins as captain in T20Is (including Super Over wins) 48 Rohit Sharma (60 mat) 48 Babar Azam (85) 45 Brian Masaba (60) 44 Eoin Morgan (72)
Most consecutive wins for India in T20Is 12 bw Nov 2021 & Feb 2022 10 bw Dec 2023 & June 2024 * 9 bw Jan 2020 & Dec 2020
Mitch Marsh | Australia Captain: Disappointing. It happens in the game of cricket. In the course of 40 overs, there are a lot of small margins. India were the better team, Rohit is a class player. (On Head and Maxwell’s batting) Gave us more belief than hope. In a run chase like that if you keep it at 10 an over, we are in the game. India’s bowlers were too good though in the end. Come on, Bangladesh now!
Rohit Sharma | India Captain: Satisfying. We know the opposition and the threat they bring. As a team we did well, kept doing the things we needed to do. Gives us good confidence as a team. 200 is a good score but when you are playing here with wind being a big factor, anything can happen. But I think we used to conditions really well, and it was about individuals doing their job. If was about getting wickets at the right time. (On Kuldeep) We know the strength he has, but we need to use him when necessary. In New York, there were seamer friendly wickets. He had to miss out but we knew he had a big role to play out here. (On semi-final) We don’t want to do anything different, play the same way and understand what each person has to do. Play freely and not think too much on what’s lying ahead. Not think about the opposition. We have been doing it consistently, just need to continue. (On playing England in semi) It will be a nice match, nothing changes for us as a team.
A wise man said the toughest opponent is me. There is no me in team sport. But India right now have a competition with themselves. Has been the case with India in league stages of the ICC events across formats for a couple of years now. They are the ME here. Their standard fell a little with the ball and on the field but the batting came to the party and how. The breeze did play a part and the dropped chances didn’t hurt them much. Australia on the other hand were short on plans once Rohit pulverized them at the top. Zampa tried his best but was taken to the cleaners by a set Rohit. Australia must have planned to bowl Maxwell to the left-handers but Marsh never got the chance to introduce him as the tempo of the innings remained almost the same for the entire innings till Rohit and SKY were there. Even Australia had a similar blueprint of attack as the best form of defence but it all fell apart after the fall of Marsh and Maxwell.
India have booked a ticket to Guyana. England will be waiting for them in what will be a repeat of the 2022 WC where India were thwarted by 10 wickets in the semis. The weather is expected to play a part as well. Hope we have done our parts well.