"We believe in karma, we believe in Sharma" - Aakash Chopra lauds Rohit Sharma's knock in IND vs AUS 2024 T20 World Cup clash
Aakash Chopra has lauded Rohit Sharma for playing a match-winning knock in India's 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against Australia. The Indian skipper smashed 92 runs off 41 deliveries, smoking the Aussie bowling attack all around the park.
Rohit's belligerent innings helped India set Australia a 206-run target in Saint Lucia on Monday, June 24. The Men in Blue then restricted Mitchell Marsh and company to 181/7 to register a 24-run win and book a berth in the semi-final against England in Guyana on June 27.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra praised Rohit for giving India a flying start and putting them on the path to a 200-plus total.
"We believe in karma, we believe in Sharma. Sharma ji's son did an incredible job and caused merriment. He hit incomparable sixes. How well the boy plays and he showed that when he plays, only he plays. He gave the Indian team a rocket-like start and showed the path to go beyond 200," he said (0:01).
The former India batter was mesmerized by the opener's marauding assault on Mitchell Starc.
"The job Rohit Sharma started doing - unbelievable. The 29 runs he hit off a Mitchell Starc over, which included four sixes, the sixes he is hitting over cover - how? When Rohit Sharma plays, he plays differently," Chopra observed (2:00)
Starc conceded 29 runs in his second over after India had lost Virat Kohli's wicket. Rohit smashed him for fours sixes and a four, with the left-arm pacer also bowling a wide.
"The best of Rohit Sharma vs the best of anyone in the world, there is a difference" - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra claimed that Rohit Sharma at his best is better than any other batter.
"The best of Rohit Sharma vs the best of anyone in the world, there is a difference. His consistency graph might not be as good as compared to the best in the world right now but when he plays, he plays incredibly well. No one has hit more sixes than him. He has only hit the most sixes against this team," he said (2:15).
While observing that Rohit might have fallen short of a record-breaking century, the cricketer-turned-commentator noted that his dominant knock put India in a great position.
"He had reached 92 and was on the verge of the fastest hundred. There was a time when the team had scored 41 and he had scored 40. Kohli had gotten out and Rishabh Pant had scored only one, but this guy was playing with a different force. He batted amazingly well and made India capable of progressing," Chopra stated.
Rohit added 87 runs for the second wicket with Rishabh Pant in just 6.2 overs. The latter contributed only 15 runs in that partnership before he was dismissed while attempting a big hit.