It was not exactly revenge for November 19, but India hammered Australia in their Super 8 match of T20 World Cup 2024 at the Darren Sammy International Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Monday, June 24. Rohit Sharma was the main man for the Men in Blue as he batted like a man possessed, hitting a match-winning 92 that came from just 41 balls. Travis Head threatened to ruin India's party once again, but Jasprit Bumrah managed to get the danger man and ended Australia's hopes of beating the Group 1 topper
Australia managed 181 and lost 7 wickets in their quota of 20 overs as Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel stood out from the rest to deflate an explosive Australian batting line-up. Kuldeep showcased his value with the ball as India made sure they kept their nerve during a couple of threatening partnerships that Travis Head was involved in.
With the 24-run win, India confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. India finished Group 1 table on the top and continued their unbeaten run in the tournament. It was also India's third successive victory against Australia in men's T20 World Cups -- a streak that began in 2014. India and South Africa are the only two teams without a defeat in the T20 World Cup.
India will take on England in the repeat of the 2022 semi-final after having reached the last-four round unbeaten. This is the first time since 2014 India have managed to storm into the semifinals without losing a game.
The win also put Australia's chances of making it out of the Super 8 stage in danger. Australia, who were shocked by Afghanistan on Sunday, need Afghanistan to lose to Bangladesh in the final Super 8 match on Tuesday morning to retain their chances. If Afghanistan beats Australia, Mitchell Marsh's team have to head home.
Australia would have been disappointed with the effort of their lower middle-order, especially after Travis Head's blitz. The Australia opener was in sensational form as he tore into the Indian attack, including Jasprit Bumrah.
76 off just 43, hitting four sixes and 9 boundaries. Head's brilliance helped Australia race to 62 for 1 in the powerplay despite them losing David Warner in the first over.
Head and captain Mitchell Marsh stitched an 81-run stand and threatened to take the game away from India as the two kept going from both ends. However, Kuldeep broke the stand in the 9th over, taking the big wicket of Mitchell Marsh after Axar Patel came up with a 'catch of the tournament' contender.
Glenn Maxwell threatened to go big, hitting 2 sixes and 3 boundaries for his 12-ball 20, but he was undone by Kuldeep, who got his wrong'un to bamboozle the Australian all-rounder.
Axar Patel joined the party, dismissing the dangerous Marcus Stoinis for 2.
Travis Head remained a threat for India as he kept finding ways to help the scoreboard moving. However, a Jasprit Bumrah special -- the slower one -- saw the end of Head for 76 (43) and Australia's hopes.
On a day when Bumrah and Hardik Pandya were on the expensive side, Kuldeep and Axar starred as India came up trumps with another collective performance. Arshdeep Singh chipped in with the big wicket of David Warner and ended up with another three-wicket haul.
Rohit Sharma hit 8 sixes and 7 boundaries as he broke a series of records for India in T20 World Cups. The India captain smashed 8 sixes, including a 100-meter monster that came against Pat Cummins. Rohit also became the first man in men's T20I history to hit 200 sixes as he took his tally to 203.
Rohit got to his fifty in just 19 balls as he was at his best against the quicks -- Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the powerplay. It was the fastest fifty by a batter against Australia in men's T20 World Cup history.
Rohit Sharma looked like a man possessed. He was smashing everything into the stands, using his range and power against the Australian bowlers. It was as if he was seeking revenge for the heartbreak of November 19 as Rohit did not give an inch away to the Mitchell Marsh-led Australian side.
India posted 205 on the board in 20 overs -- the highest score against Australia in T20 World Cup history. Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with a quickfire 31 off just 16 balls while Shivam Dube hit a six and 2 boundaries for his 22-ball 28. Hardik Pandya continued his fine finishing form for India as he hit 27 off just 17 balls. Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with 9 off 5 balls, hitting a six as India finished strong, scoring over 200 for the first time in this edition of the T20 World Cup.
