Indian captain Rohit Sharma showcased his masterful batting prowess against Australian pace ace Mitchell Starc in the T20 World Cup 2024 match at Daren Sammy National Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia on Monday (June 24). Following Virat Kohli‘s early dismissal for a duck in the second over, Rohit took charge and turned the momentum in India’s favour with a blistering onslaught against Starc.
Rohit Sharma’s ruthless counterattack attack against Mitchell Starc
In Starc’s third over, Rohit unleashed a barrage of attacking shots, scoring 28 runs in that over alone. The over began with two consecutive sixes hit over deep extra cover, displaying his intent from the outset. He then followed up with two boundaries in succession, first at mid-on and then at mid-wicket, showcasing his ability to find gaps and punish loose deliveries. Although Starc managed a dot ball in between, he struggled to contain Rohit, conceding a wide on the sixth delivery. Rohit capitalized on every opportunity, finishing the over with another six, this time at third man off a full toss.
Here’s the video:
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Record-breaking feat
Rohit’s blazing innings in the 2024 T20 World Cup not only included his ruthless assault on Starc but also featured him setting a new record for the fastest fifty in the tournament. He achieved this milestone in just 19 balls, surpassing the previous records held by Aaron Jones of the United States of America (USA) and Quinton de Kock of South Africa, who had both reached their fifties in 22 balls each earlier in the tournament.
Rohit’s dismissal and India’s response
After wreaking havoc on Starc, Rohit eventually fell for a magnificent 92 runs off 41 balls. His departure provided some relief to the Australian camp but left a significant impact on the match. Following Rohit’s dismissal, Suryakumar Yadav (31 off 16 balls) and Shivam Dube (28 off 22 balls) maintained the tempo with their aggressive stroke play. Hardik Pandya (27 off 17 balls) finished the innings in style, guiding India to a commanding total of 205/5.