Rohit Sharma, after a string of low scores, found his form with a scintillating 41-ball 92 against Australia in the 11th Super 8 match on Monday, June 24. His explosive innings featured eight sixes and seven fours, propelling India to a rapid start. This remarkable knock saw Rohit reach his fifty in just the fifth over, making him only the fourth batter in T20 World Cup history to achieve a half-century within the powerplay.

Reaching the milestone in a mere 19 balls, Rohit not only set the record for the fastest fifty of this World Cup, but he also recorded the quickest half-century of his T20I career. The conditions in St Lucia, typically favoring bowlers, seemed to bow to Rohit’s will as he dominated the Australian attack. His aggressive approach and precision hitting turned the tide in India’s favor from the outset.

Rohit’s assault on Mitchell Starc in the third over was particularly noteworthy. He dismantled the Aussie seamer with a stunning display, amassing 29 runs off the over, which included four towering sixes and a boundary, alongside a wide. This onslaught significantly accelerated his journey towards his half-century, his 31st in T20Is, and set the tone for a memorable innings that rejuvenated his campaign.

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Analysis of Rohit’s figures against each Australian bowlers

🏏 How did Rohit Sharma decimate Australia's bowling attack? #cricket #t20worldcup @BCCI #INDVSAUS pic.twitter.com/nnszrEjy4j

— Saiprasad Kagne (@KEVLAR2601) June 25, 2024

Rohit Sharma’s struggles against left-arm pacers have been well-documented, having been dismissed by them 24 times in T20Is, with a pre-match average of just 22.3, his lowest against any bowling type in this format. In the 2024 T20 World Cup alone, he had fallen to left-arm pace thrice, making the match-up against Mitchell Starc a critical one in this fixture. However, with no swing on offer in St Lucia, Rohit turned the tables on Australia’s premier left-arm pacer.

Starc began his second over, the third of the innings, only to find himself at the receiving end of Rohit’s ferocious assault. Rohit started with back-to-back sixes over the covers, taking advantage of the full deliveries pitched outside the off stump. Having gauged the lack of lateral movement, he confidently dispatched both balls over the boundary. Continuing his onslaught, Rohit then targeted the on-side, slogging a four over mid-on followed by a perfectly timed six over mid-wicket on the next two deliveries.

The over concluded with Rohit getting a bit of luck as he top-edged a pull that sailed over the boundary for yet another six. This remarkable over, yielding 29 runs, became the second-most expensive by an Australian in T20Is, highlighting Rohit’s dominance and resilience against a bowler who had previously been his Achilles’ heel.

Rohit Sharma was eventually dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the 12th over, but by then, he had already inflicted significant damage on Australia. Needing a win to secure a semi-final spot without relying on other results, Australia found themselves reeling from Rohit’s onslaught. By the end of the powerplay, India had reached 60/1, their highest powerplay score in this World Cup and the third highest overall, with Rohit contributing 51 of those runs. India’s aggressive approach continued, reaching their hundred in just 8.4 overs, setting a formidable foundation.

Rohit’s blistering knock brought back memories of the 2010 T20 World Cup, where a 23-year-old Rohit had struck an unbeaten 79 against Australia in the West Indies. His prowess against Australia in the Caribbean remains impressive, accumulating 171 runs off just 87 deliveries at a strike rate of 196.6, including 14 sixes. This performance once again highlighted his ability to deliver crucial innings in high-stakes matches, reinforcing his status as a match-winner for India.

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