India vs Australia Highlights, 2024 T20 World Cup: 3 moments that generated buzz among fans in Match 51 ft. Rohit Sharma
India delivered yet another clinical performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, this time defeating the mighty Australia in their Super Eight fixture in St. Lucia on Monday, June 24. The Men in Blue sealed the top spot in the group and will face England in the semifinals.
Skipper Rohit Sharma led by example as his blazing knock (92 off 41) caught the Australians off guard. Handy cameos from Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya ensured India got to a mammoth 205/5 in their 20 overs.
In reply, Australia mounted a stiff challenge led by a fine innings from Travis Head (76 off 43). However, the Indian bowlers kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals and ensured that the Men in Blue won the game by 24 runs.
On that note, let's take a look at the three moments from the game that grabbed the attention of fans on social media:
#1 Rohit Sharma's carnage against Mitchell Starc
Despite India losing the wicket of Virat Kohli for a duck, Rohit Sharma was clear in his mindset that he wanted to go after the Australian bowlers. With so much said about his woes against the left-arm pacers, Rohit ironically took on Mitchell Starc in his second over.
The first two deliveries from Starc were juicy half-volleys that Rohit deposited over covers for back-to-back sixes. Starc then changed the plan and tried to make Rohit hit against the wind. However, Rohit still managed to drag the ball towards mid-wicket for a boundary, followed by a massive six over cow corner.
Rohit ended the over with a top edge that flew over the third-man fence for a six to score a mind-boggling 28 runs, with one run coming through an extra to make it 29 - the most Starc has conceded in an over in T20Is.
#2 Axar Patel's one-handed stunner to dismiss Mitchell Marsh
Australia lost David Warner in the first over of the chase, but Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh launched a counterattack that put pressure on the Men in Blue. The duo added 81 runs off just 47 balls and had the partnership developed further, India were in serious trouble.
However, a moment of brilliance from Axar Patel allowed his team to claw their way back into the game. Marsh tried to deposit a delivery from Kuldeep Yadav over the square leg boundary and made decent contact.
The Australian captain must have thought he had got enough on it to clear the ropes, but it wasn't to be as Axar backpedaled and timed his jump to perfection to take a one-handed screamer. He initially tried to catch it with both hands, but the ball eventually stuck in his right hand and Axar ensured he held onto it despite tumbling on the ground.
#3 Kuldeep Yadav foxing Glenn Maxwell
Kuldeep Yadav produced yet another important moment of his bowling that decisively put India ahead in the game. Glenn Maxwell walked out to bat at No. 4 and straightaway put pressure on the Men in Blue. He took the attack to Ravindra Jadeja and raced to 20 off 11 balls.
With Head going all guns blazing at the other end, the fielding side needed a breakthrough and Kuldeep stepped up. Maxwell stepped out to a googly from Kuldeep and tried to slog it across the line, only to miss it completely and watch his stumps rattled.
His wicket punctured the momentum that Australia had and it ended up being just too much for them.