Last Update on: November 16th, 2023 at 12:43 pm
As Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Shreyas Iyer receive accolades from all quarters after India’s win over New Zealand in the World Cup semifinal, ex-England skipper Nasser Hussain has pointed out Rohit Sharma as the unsung hero.
The India skipper, who was the highest run-scorer in the last World Cup and had smashed a record five centuries, has shown very little regard for personal milestones in the ongoing edition. Throughout the World Cup, Rohit Sharma has ensured to provide India with a quick start, laying the platform for a big score or an easy chase and making things easier for the middle-order batters.
He gave India another solid start with the bat in the semifinal as well. After opting to bat first, the captain led from the very front and took the New Zealand bowlers to the cleaners. He smashed 47 runs off just 29 balls with the help of 4 fours and 4 sixes and added 71 runs in just 50 balls with Shubman Gill. India did not look back after the stunning start and went on to pile up a mammoth total of 397 for 4.
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer scored centuries while Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 80. In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for 327. The Black Caps came up with a fighting effort with the bat but the total was too big to chase. Daryl Mitchell scored 134 runs while captain Kane Williamson scored 69. For India, Mohammed Shami made the difference with the ball again, taking 7 for 57.
Nasser Hussain hails Rohit Sharma:
Speaking at the end of the game, Nasser Hussain was all praise for the way Rohit Sharma has performed in the World Cup. The former cricketer-turned-commentator said that while the likes of Kohli, Iyer, and Shami will grab all the headlines, Rohit Sharma is the hero of the team. He heaped praise on the India star for continuing his aggressive approach even in the semifinal.
“Today is quite a telling point for India and what their cricket is all about. They want to win and win World Cups, but they also love personal milestones,” Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports.
“The headlines tomorrow will be about Kohli, about Shreyas, about Shami. But the genuine hero of this Indian side, the man who has changed the culture, is Rohit Sharma.
“It’s one thing coming in the group stage, but can you do it again, can you play fearless cricket in a semi-final? Their skipper went out there and showed everyone, showed his dressing room that they’re going to carry on in exactly the same way,” he added.
Team India will lock horns against either Australia or South Africa in the final on Sunday (November 19).
