"Are we going to do another segment about his weakness to left-handers?"- Sunil Gavaskar's dig at broadcasters after Rohit Sharma's 41-ball 92 vs Aus
Sunil Gavaskar slammed critics of skipper Rohit Sharma and his weakness against left-arm pacers after India's win over Australia in the Super Eight of the 2024 T20 World Cup at St.Lucia on June 24. The 37-year-old had been dismissed by left-arm pacers like Shaheen Afridi, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Saurabh Netravalkar earlier in the tournament.
However, Rohit took down Mitchell Starc in his second over with four maximums and a boundary to get himself going. The Indian captain scored an incredible 92 off 41 balls with the help of seven fours and eight maximums.
While Starc eventually dismissed him eight short of a century, the damage had already been done.
Talking on Star Sports after the game, Gavaskar sarcastically questioned if segments on Rohit Sharma's struggles against left-arm pacers would be done since Starc eventually dismissed him.
"Just thinking about Rohit Sharma once again, he got out to a left-hander. So before the next match, are we going to do another segment about his weakness to left-handers? He got to a left hander no? So another segment next time," said Gavaskar.
"That's the thing, with the new ball they are going to get the ball is going to swing. And if you are looking to play attacking shots where you know your bat is a little in front of the pad, you are going to be out LBW, you are going to be out bowled. So I don't think you should look too much at that," he added.
Rohit's assault propelled India to a massive 205/5 in 20 overs as they eventually completed a 24-run win to qualify for the semi-final.
During his knock, the champion batter became the leading run-scorer in T20Is with 4,165 runs in 157 outings.
"I was thinking to hit everything that was possible" - Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma maintained that he wanted to play an attacking brand of batting from the get-go in the crucial encounter against Australia.
After scoring a half-century in the tournament opener against Ireland, the veteran batter had struggled for form coming into this clash with four scores of under 25.
At the post-match presentation, Rohit said of his knock:
"They changed their plans and tried to bowl against the breeze. Needed to be smart, was just backing myself to do. 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."
Team India remained unbeaten in the 2024 T20 World Cup with their sixth consecutive win, helping them finish atop the Super Eight Group 1 standings.
They will take on England in the second semi-final at Guyana on Thursday, June 27.