‘Needed To Be Smart’, Says Rohit Sharma After India Overpower Australia To Enter T20 World Cup 2024 Semifinals

New Delhi: Playing the smart way was the key to Rohit Sharma’s innings as his 92 off just 41 balls proved to be the game-changer in India’s 24-run win over Australia in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 on Monday in St Lucia. Sent into bat first, India started on a disastrous note as Virat Kohli got out for a duck – his second in this tournament.

Undeterred by Kohli’s dismissal, Rohit started a counter-attack by clobbering Mitchell Starc with 29-run over. On the best batting surface of the tournament, Rohit made the most of the conditions with a sublime knock comprising seven fours and eight sixes including a recording extending 200th in the format. The Indian captain did bulk of the damage in his 87-run stand with number three Rishabh Pant (15 off 14), who welcomed leg-spinner Adam Zampa into the attack with a six over long-on.

“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,” Rohit said after the game.

Such was the authority of Rohit’s innings that he could choose his spot against all the bowlers of repute. It could have been a well-deserved 100 but Starc came back to remove the India skipper with a yorker. “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,” added the India opener.

Asked if at any point of time he though about getting a hundred, Rohit said, “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.”

In reply, Australia were restricted to 181/7 with Travis Head top-scored for Australia with 76 off 43 balls. Among Indian bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav (2/24) performed brilliantly in the middle overs, while Arshdeep Singh ended with figures of 3/37.