Rohit Sharma on Sweet Revenge: India’s Win Over Australia in T20 WC 2024

After losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final to Australia, India’s skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front in the 2024 T20 World Cup, exacting revenge with a blistering 92-run knock to knock Australia out of the tournament.

Mumbai, June 27 — Indian ODI captain Rohit Sharma has candidly shared his thoughts on the high-voltage rivalry between India and Australia, especially in the context of major ICC tournaments. Reflecting on both pain and redemption, Rohit highlighted the emotional impact of the 2023 World Cup final loss and the satisfying revenge taken in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

On November 19, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India suffered a six-wicket defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup final, dashing hopes of a historic title win after a ten-match unbeaten streak. But fast forward to June 24, 2024, during the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in the West Indies, India bounced back in style, defeating Australia by 24 runs, a win that not only avenged the earlier heartbreak but also knocked Australia out of the tournament.

Speaking to JioHotstar, Rohit Sharma recalled the mindset within the dressing room ahead of that crucial T20 clash:

“Australia had ruined our and the whole country’s November 19 in the ODI WC Final, so we should also give them a gift. These kinds of things were talked about in the dressing room. We had it in our minds that if we win this match, Australia will be out of this T20 World Cup.”

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A Knock to Remember: Rohit’s Firestorm Against Australia

In that high-stakes Super Eight encounter, Rohit Sharma delivered a captain’s knock, scoring 92 runs off just 41 balls, hitting 8 sixes and 7 fours, at a strike rate of 224.39. His aggressive approach set the tone early and broke the back of the Australian bowling attack.

“When I stepped out to play against Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup, all I had in my mind was that I had to score somehow. I had to perform well against them and score runs against them. I was looking to attack each and every Australian bowler,” Rohit explained.

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From Heartbreak to Triumph: Rohit’s Redemption Arc

The redemption arc reached its peak on June 29, 2024, in Barbados, when India clinched the ICC T20 World Cup title, ending an 11-year-long ICC trophy drought. India beat South Africa by 7 runs in a thrilling final, earning their second T20 World Cup crown.

For Rohit Sharma, this marked a personal milestone — his second T20 World Cup title (first as a captain), and a long-awaited ICC trophy as leader, following the crushing defeat in the ODI World Cup final at home the previous year.