India skipper Rohit Sharma led his team from the front in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final win over England at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on Thursday (June 27).
Invited to bat first, the Men in Blue lost Virat Kohli (9) and Rishabh Pant (4) cheaply. Despite the loss of two quick wickets, Rohit launched an assault on the English bowling attack.
He played some innovative strokes on the slow pitch and added 73 for the third wicket with Suryakumar Yadav to put India in a strong position.
During this partnership, there was a moment where Rohit looked to attack Liam Livingstone in the 11th over. After Suryakumar smashed a six off the first delivery, the Indian captain was seen telling his partner that if the bowler pitched the delivery on a fuller length once again, he will go for a big one.
“Upar dega toh deta hu na (if he overpitches, I will hit him),” stump mic caught Rohit as saying.
As it turned out, Livingstone bowled the fuller length delivery and Rohit smashed it over the boundary ropes at the fine-leg region. With this maximum, the right-handed opener brought up his half-century off 36 balls.
In his attempt to play selfless cricket, Rohit Sharma lost his wicket to Adil Rashid when he was on 57 off 39 balls. His knock, studded with six boundaries and two sixes, laid the foundation of India’s challenging total of 171/7 in 20 overs.
In reply, England’s innings folded for a paltry 103 in 16.4 overs. It was a listless batting display from the defending champions as no one managed to touch the 30-run mark. Harry Brook top scored with 25 off 19 balls.
The duo of Akshar Patel (3-23) and Kuldeep Yadav (3-19) spun a web around the English batters, claiming three wickets each to script India’s emphatic win. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also returned with a couple of scalps in his 2.4 overs.
India will now take on South Africa in the title clash at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday (June 29).
