"England were beaten up in Rohit Sharma's laundry this time" - Aakash Chopra lauds opener's knock in IND vs ENG 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final
Aakash Chopra has lauded Rohit Sharma for playing a match-defining knock in India's 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final win against England. The Indian skipper smashed 57 runs off 39 deliveries with the help of six fours and two sixes.
Rohit's half-century helped India set England a 172-run target after being asked to bat first in Guyana on Thursday, June 27. The Men in Blue then bundled Jos Buttler and company out for 103 to register an emphatic 68-run win and book their berth in the final against South Africa in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said Rohit thrashed England and sent them packing.
"England were beaten up in Rohit Sharma's laundry this time. He cleaned them up properly and the Indian team shone. We haven't lost even one game and have reached the final. England were shown the road home," he said (0:01).
The former India opener pointed out that Rohit made England pay for their decision to field first.
"England won the toss and opted to bowl first and I was elated that they had done a great job because I felt if the Indian team reached 130-140, they would win, and if they reached 155, it would be 15-20 runs extra, and India reached 171. Then they defeated the opposing team by such a huge margin. Who started it - Rohit Sharma," Chopra observed (2:10).
Chopra added that the Indian skipper played a couple of match-winning knocks earlier in the tournament as well.
"Just think about it, the first match against Ireland, he scored a fifty there as well. Then the last match against Australia, he scored 92 runs there, how well he hit. If he hadn't scored those many runs, we couldn't have beaten Australia, although it wouldn't have mattered to us as we would have finished No. 1 but we might have faced Australia in the final. Here he sent England home," he added.
Chopra highlighted that India were in a spot of bother against England as Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were dismissed cheaply. Recalling Rohit's 161-run knock in the 2021 Chennai Test against England, he added that the opener takes the attacking route on difficult pitches and doesn't look to defend and survive.
"Run-scoring progresses fast and the opposing team becomes defensive" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit Sharma's approach
Aakash Chopra noted that Rohit Sharma made the most of the life he got and forced England to go defensive.
"He got half a chance, Phil Salt couldn't take a catch, but the way he batted, whether it was against spin or fast bowling, aerial firing or cricketing shots, it's certain that until Rohit is there, run-scoring progresses fast and the opposing team becomes defensive," he said (3:50).
The cricketer-turned-commentator opined that the Indian captain should have been chosen the Player of the Match ahead of Axar Patel.
"In my opinion, the Man of the Match performance actually came from him. I would have given it to him, but it's okay - Axar Patel, everything is good for Bapu as well. Rohit Sharma has walked the talk. When the captain starts walking the talk, the team suddenly starts following," Chopra observed.
Rohit added 73 runs for the third wicket with Suryakumar Yadav (47 off 36) after India were reduced to 40/2. He was eventually bowled by Adil Rashid while attempting a big shot against a googly.