Indian skipper Rohit Sharma etched his name in the history books on Monday, becoming the joint-most successful captain in T20 Internationals. His leadership, along with a match-winning knock of 92 runs, steered India to a crucial 24-run victory over Australia in the ongoing T20 World Cup Super 8 stage.
Sharma Equals Babar Azam’s Record
With this win, India has secured a total of 48 victories under Sharma’s captaincy in T20Is. This achievement sees him tie Pakistan captain Babar Azam for the most wins by a captain in the format. Only Uganda’s Brian Masaba comes close with 45 wins under his belt.
While Sharma’s batting brilliance laid the foundation for India’s success, it was a collective bowling effort that ultimately sealed the deal. Arshdeep Singh (3/37) set the tone early, removing David Warner in the first over. Kuldeep Yadav (2/24) provided a crucial breakthrough with the wicket of Mitchell Marsh (81), while Jasprit Bumrah (1/22) dismissed the dangerous Travis Head (76) at a critical juncture. This combined effort restricted Australia to 181/7 in their chase of India’s imposing total of 205/5.
Sharma’s Blazing Knock Sets the Stage
Earlier, Rohit Sharma treated the St Lucia crowd to a masterclass in batting. He unleashed a flurry of sixes, reaching his fifty off just 19 balls – the fastest of the tournament so far. Despite missing out on a well-deserved century (dismissed for 92 off 41 balls), Sharma’s knock provided the impetus for a strong Indian total. Suryakumar Yadav (31) and Shivam Dube (28) chipped in with valuable contributions.
This victory extends India’s unbeaten streak in the tournament. They will now face England in the semi-final at Providence Stadium, Guyana on June 27th. Meanwhile, Australia’s fate hangs in the balance. They require Afghanistan to lose their final group-stage match against Bangladesh to secure a semi-final berth.
While India’s overall performance was commendable, there was a concern for Virat Kohli, who was dismissed for a five-ball duck by Josh Hazlewood in the second over. Kohli’s struggles with the bat continue to be a talking point throughout the tournament.
India’s comprehensive victory over Australia serves as a strong statement of their intent. With Rohit Sharma rediscovering his batting touch and the bowling attack firing on all cylinders, they are the team to beat as the tournament enters its knockout stages.
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