Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Rohit Sharma’s leadership and India’s commanding performance following their impressive 24-run victory over Australia in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 in St Lucia.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, delivered a resounding statement with their win, which Akhtar described as a transformation from “depression into obsession” after their heartbreak in the ODI World Cup final against the same opponent.
In a video shared on his platform ‘X’, Shoaib Akhtar expressed admiration for Rohit Sharma’s blistering innings, where the Indian captain smashed 92 runs off just 41 balls, featuring 7 fours and 8 sixes.
Rohit’s aggressive approach set the tone early on as India posted a formidable total of 205 for 5 after being put in to bat first.
“The depression India was going through after their defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup final has changed into obsession. India wanted to take down Australia. Rohit Sharma did what he needed to do. He played with brilliant intent, the way he took down Starc. I wish he scored 150 today,”
Akhtar remarked.
Watch the viral video here:
India's perfect revenge on a big stage pic.twitter.com/bcuK19Bbzz
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 24, 2024
Rohit Sharma’s innings included the fastest fifty of the tournament so far, coming off just 19 balls, showcasing his dominance and setting a daunting target for the Australians. Akhtar highlighted Sharma’s aggressive intent against Mitchell Starc and other Australian bowlers, emphasizing his impact on the match.
Following Sharma’s fireworks with the bat, India’s bowlers maintained their composure to restrict Australia to 181 for 7 in their chase. Akhtar praised the bowling unit, particularly singling out Arshdeep Singh for his crucial wickets of David Warner, Tim David, and Matthew Wade, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 37.
India’s spinners also played a vital role in choking the Australian batting line-up, with Kuldeep Yadav claiming 2 wickets for 24 runs in his spell. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel contributed with one wicket each to seal India’s victory.
With this win, India secured their place in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup, where they will face England, led by Jos Buttler, on June 27 in Guyana. The clash promises to be another exciting encounter as India continues their quest for T20 glory under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.
The victory not only showcased India’s resilience but also underscored their determination to excel on the global stage, as acknowledged by Shoaib Akhtar, who credited Rohit Sharma and the team for their outstanding performance against a formidable Australian side.
