`If we win this match, Australia will be out…`: Rohit opens up on T20 WC knock

Team India`s ODI skipper Rohit Sharma opened up and shared his thoughts on the rivalry against Australia in the major ICC events.

On November 19, 2023, in the ODI World Cup, Australia defeated India at the Narendra Modi Stadium and crushed the nation`s hope of witnessing their favourite men lay their hands on the elusive cup on home soil.

A year later, during the T20 World Cup 2024, India registered a 24-run win against Australia on June 24. Following the victory, it also helped the `Men in Blue` to seal the semi-final berth of the marquee event.

In an interview on JioHotstar, Rohit stated that the Aussies had earlier `ruined` the night of November 19 in 2023.

“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,” said Rohit.

Later, the 38-year-old spoke about the knock he played against Australia during the T20 World Cup 2024. Facing 41 balls, the explosive right-hander scored 92 runs, including seven boundaries and eight maximums. He played with a strike rate of 224.39.

“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 against each and every Australian bowler,” he said.

The `Men in Blue` eventually also came victorious in the final of the mega event in Barbados on June 29. With this, Team India ended their 11-year-long ICC Trophy drought after defeating South Africa by seven runs.

Following the triumph, Rohit Sharma drew curtains on his shortest format career. He represented India in 159 matches and has scored 4,231 runs. He also had five centuries and 32 half-centuries to his name. His top score in the format remains an unbeaten 121 runs.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day