Rohit Sharma registered the third-fastest half-century by an Indian in T20 World Cup history during a Super Eight match against Australia in St. Lucia on Monday. Rohit reached the 50-run mark off just 19 balls with a single off the last ball of the fifth over, bowled by Pat Cummins. This remarkable feat places Rohit behind only Yuvraj Singh and KL Rahul in the record books.
Yuvraj’s 12-ball fifty against England in Durban during the 2007 edition of the T20 World Cup remains the fastest in the history of the tournament. KL Rahul’s 18-ball half-century against Scotland in 2021 in Dubai is the second-fastest by an Indian in T20 World Cups.
During the highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 clash at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Rohit Sharma launched a ferocious counterattack against Mitchell Starc immediately after the early loss of Virat Kohli. Taking on Australia’s most dangerous fast bowler, Rohit showcased his power-hitting prowess, smashing four sixes and a four in one over.
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In the third over of India’s innings, Rohit welcomed Starc with a stand-and-deliver six. He followed it up with another maximum over mid-wicket on the next delivery. Not stopping there, he hammered a brutal four over mid-on, making it 16 runs off the first three balls. The biggest hit of the over came with a massive 96-meter six over deep mid-wicket.
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Rohit Sharma concluded the over with another six, making it a 29-run over—Starc’s most expensive in T20I cricket. Before the match was interrupted by rain, India had raced to 43/1 in 4.1 overs, with Rohit batting on 41* off just 14 balls.
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During this explosive innings, Rohit achieved significant milestones, becoming the top-scorer for India in T20Is, surpassing Virat Kohli, who had fallen for a five-ball duck earlier in the match. The 37-year-old also became the first batter to hit 200 sixes in T20Is, further cementing his legacy in the shortest format of the game.
FASTEST FIFTIES BY INDIANS IN T20 WORLD CUP
- Yuvraj Singh – 12 balls – India vs England – 2007
- KL Rahul – 18 balls – India vs Scotland, 2021
- Rohit Sharma – 19 balls – India vs Australia, 2024
- Yuvraj Singh – 20 balls – India vs Australia, 2007
- Suryakumar Yadav – 23 balls – India vs Zimbabwe, 2022
