Mitchell Starc reflects on Rohit Sharma's epic T20 World Cup innings that deflated Australia's hopes

It was a case of coming so close yet falling short, as India stumbled at the final hurdle in the ODI Cricket World Cup on November 19, 2023. The Rohit Sharma-led side looked in great form but were bowled out for 240 in the final against Australia, a total that wasn't enough to win and left the hearts of more than a billion people broken.

However, there is always a next time in sports and life, as demonstrated during India's T20 World Cup campaign. The men in blue avenged past losses against Australia and England, finally lifting the trophy to achieve redemption. It was a captain's knock in the final, showcasing the very best of Rohit Sharma, who launched a ferocious attack on Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc during their Super 8 clash in St Lucia, leaving onlookers astounded by his exceptional batting prowess.

Facing off against the left-arm speedster, the Indian captain completely dominated the Australian pacer, amassing a remarkable 29 runs.


During Starc's over, Rohit effortlessly showcased his ability to clear the boundaries, smashing 4 sixes and a four. The over also included a wide and a dot ball.

Reflecting on the T20 World Cup match against India during a recent appearance on the LiSTNR Sport podcast, Starc remarked, "I've played against him (Rohit) a lot. He had a fantastic tournament, especially towards the end. I think he targeted the wind in St. Lucia as well. There was one end where we leaked a lot of runs, and I happened to bowl from that very end (laughs). I bowled 5 bad balls and he dispatched all of them for sixes (four sixes and one four)."

"That was the highest-scoring wicket throughout the World Cup. It was probably the fastest wicket across the West Indies. We were chasing for a while, but a few setbacks and some quality bowling from them set us back," he added.

Here's the video:



Later in the game, Starc managed to dismiss Rohit with a yorker that shattered his stumps.

Despite this breakthrough, Rohit had already inflicted significant damage, scoring an impressive 92 runs off just 41 deliveries, earning his 'Hitman' nickname.

India eventually went on to win the T20 World Cup, ending their 17-year wait for the title. Meanwhile, Australia's early exit from the tournament prompted discussions about their team selection.