Team India delivered a clinical all-round performance against Australia to storm into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match in St. Lucia. After Rohit Sharma plundered 92 runs off only 41 deliveries, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav choked Australia to deliver a 24-run win.
All eyes will be on the weather in Saint Lucia as India and Australia get ready to lock horns in their Super 8 clash at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on Monday. The Men in Blue have a terrific opportunity to knock the 2021 champions out and qualify for the semifinals if they win tonight's match. This is the perfect opportunity for India to avenge their 2023 ODI World Cup final thumping they received at the hands of the Aussies on November 19. Australia meanwhile, have to beat India and then hope for a Bangladesh victory against Afghanistan tomorrow to stay alive in the semis race. Notably, India hold a 3-2 advantage over Australia in T20 World Cups.
Live Updates:
9.52 pm - India have become the first team in the tournament to score a double hundred in an innings as they end up with 205 for 5 in 20 overs, the highest total against Australia in T20 World Cup history.
Captain Rohit Sharma was the main performer with the bat, stealing the show with his 41-ball 92 that consisted of 7 fours and 8 sixes. Suryakumar Yadav (31), Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27*) also made crucial contributions for the Men in Blue. For Australia, Mitchell Starc and Marcus Stoinis bagged a couple of wickets each with the white-ball.
9.45 pm - WICKET! Shivam Dube c Warner b Stoinis 28 (22 balls). India 194/5 in 18.4 overs
9.35 pm - Enjoy the highlights of Rohit Sharma's blistering knock
9.26 pm - WICKET! Suryakumar Yadav c Wade b Starc 31 (16 balls). India 159/4 (14.3 overs)
9.12 pm - WICKET! Rohit Sharma b Mitch Starc 92 (41 balls). India 127/3 (11.2 overs)
8.36 pm - Rohit Sharma brings up his 31st T20I fifty in just 19 balls with 5 sixes and 4 fours. India 52/1 in 5 overs
8.28 pm - Fortunately, the rain has stopped and the covers are coming off. Play will resume shortly.
8.26 pm - Rohit Sharma welcomes Pat Cummins into the attack with a 100m SIX. This is Rohit's 200th maximum in T20Is, the most by any batter in the format. And just as the ball hits the roof, rain stops play in Saint Lucia. India 43/1 in 4.1 Overs (Rohit Sharma 41*)
8.17 pm - India captain on fire! Rohit Sharma takes Mitchell Starc to the cleaners in the 3rd over, smashing 29 runs - 6 6 4 6 0 Wd 6. This is the most expensive over bowled by Starc in T20I cricket.
8.05 pm - BIG WICKET! Virat Kohli c David b Hazlewood 0 (5 balls)
7.36 pm - Here are the Playing XIs of both teams for tonight's clash.
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh(c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
7.35 pm - Australia have brought back Mitchell Starc in place of off-spinner Ashton Agar while Team India remains unchanged.
7.33 pm - Mitchell Marsh wins the toss and elects to bowl first against Team India in Saint Lucia.
7.25 pm - If Australia beat India by 41 runs and Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 81 runs, Men in Blue will be ELIMINATED.
7.11 pm - The Indian team players are in the stadium
Pitch Report
6.53 pm - Here are some more visuals from Saint Lucia. Conditions are expected to remain overcast throughout the match.
6.45 pm - Virat Kohli was spotted shirtless near the team hotel pool before the players headed to the Darren Sammy Stadium.
6.30 pm - The rain has stopped and the sun has come out in Saint Lucia so fans can expect the game to start on time. But the weather could play spoilsport during the clash later in the evening.
Pitch & Weather
St Lucia has distinguished itself as the most favorable venue for batters in the T20 World Cup, with an impressive scoring rate of 8.92 runs per over and an average of 28.76. Fast bowlers have encountered significant difficulties on this pitch, surrendering runs at a tournament-high economy rate of 9.42. In contrast, spinners have achieved more success, maintaining an economy rate of 7.91, which is superior to their performance in both Dallas and Antigua.
However, weather conditions could impact play in St Lucia. Forecasts predict potential showers throughout Monday morning, although the weather is expected to clear up between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Squads
India - Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal
Australia - Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh(c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis
