Cricket

Australia's T20 World Cup hopes now hinge on the outcome of the Afghanistan-Bangladesh match after they suffered a 24-run defeat to India in their must-win Super 8 clash.The Aussies ended their Super 8 campaign with just one victory in three matches and now require Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan and become the second team from Group 1 to qualify for the semifinals.Australia will fail to reach the last four if Afghanistan, who defeated them by 21 runs in a stunning upset last time out, beat Bangladesh in the concluding game of the Super Eights stage.Despite the defeat, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said his team technically still stands a chance for the last four berth and expressed his support for Bangladesh to win."It's disappointing. Still technically a chance to go through, and today India got the better of us. I think over the course of 40 overs there's a lot of small margins, but honestly, India were the better team," Marsh said at the post-match presentation.He also lavished praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his blistering knock of 92, emphasizing the impact he can have on the game once he settles in at the crease."We've seen for 15 years what Rohit Sharma can do in that kind of mood, and he got off to an absolute flier. In a run chase like that, you're in it if you can keep it at tens for as long as possible, but India were too good for us. Come on, Bangladesh!"Rohit led from the front with a 41-ball knock, including seven fours and eight sixes, as his side posted a total of 205-5.Australia was then held to 181-7, with opener Travis Head top-scoring with 76 in an innings where left-arm paceman Arshdeep Singh took 3-37.India will now play defending champions England in Thursday's semi-final in Guyana.

In a thrilling Super 8 clash at the 2024 T20 World Cup, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel etched his name in the annals of cricket history with an extraordinary catch to dismiss Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh.After Marsh had survived a couple of earlier dropped catches, Axar produced a moment of brilliance on the final ball of the ninth over. Kuldeep Yadav's length ball was slog swept by Marsh, sending it hurtling towards the deep backward square-leg fence.As the ball approached, Axar, despite being a left-handed fielder, instinctively raised his right hand and timed his jump to perfection. The ball, traveling at a rapid pace, stuck in his grasp, sending shockwaves through the Australian camp.The catch not only ended Marsh's dangerous 37-run knock but also broke the 81-run partnership between him and opener Travis Head. It was a pivotal moment in the match, as Australia were chasing a formidable target of 206 set by India.Earlier, Rohit Sharma had played a blistering innings of 92 off 41 balls, propelling India to a commanding total. On a batting-friendly surface, Rohit unleashed his full repertoire of shots, hitting seven fours and eight sixes, including a record-extending 200th six in the T20 format.Axar's catch and Rohit's innings were the highlights of a memorable match that showcased the skill and excitement of the T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli's early dismissal left India reeling at 6 for 1 in the second over of their T20I clash against Australia. However, Rohit Sharma stepped up to the plate and unleashed a brutal assault on Mitchell Starc, turning the tide in India's favor.Starc's first delivery to Sharma was a full toss outside off stump, which the Indian opener dispatched over cover for a six. The next ball was another full delivery, this time wider, and Sharma again sent it soaring over the boundary at cover point.Sharma's onslaught continued with a powerful drive down the ground for four off the third ball. Starc's fourth delivery was a 144kph full toss outside off stump, and Sharma seized the opportunity to launch it into the crowd at deep midwicket for another six.Starc attempted to stem the flow of runs with a wide blockhole, but Sharma was unable to connect. The Australian pacer then overstepped, resulting in a wide.Undeterred, Starc persisted with the wide yorker, but this time it sailed outside the tramlines. Sharma capitalized on the full toss that followed, top-edging it over deep third for another six.Starc's expensive over ended with Sharma on 26 runs from just five deliveries. The Indian opener's blistering start gave India the momentum they needed to post a competitive total of 161 for 7.

Indian cricket team's star batter Virat Kohli's dismal form at the T20 World Cup 2024 continued on Monday as he was dismissed for a duck during the Super 8 match against Australia. Kohli faced just five deliveries before he completely miscued a shot off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood and the catch was comfortably taken by Tim David at wide mid-on.Kohli's dismissal sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many fans expressing their disappointment and frustration. Some even called for him to be dropped from the team."Someone send him back to 3," tweeted Waqiullah Budye."TV Off," wrote Lokesh Saini."Pull is not everyone's cup of tea," added Jaunism.Kohli's poor form in the tournament has been a major concern for India. He has scored just 66 runs in six matches, with four single-digit scores.Earlier, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to field."We are going to bowl first. Looks a belter, it looks lovely. It's a quarter final, looking forward to it, big challenge against India. We have had ourselves in this situation before, every game is a must-win now. We got an experienced group, a great staff. Starc comes in for Agar," Marsh said at the toss.India skipper Rohit Sharma said that he would have fielded if India won the toss."We would have fielded first as well, looks a bit sticky. We wanted to chase. We know what exactly we are doing, will try to do our best. I hope it doesn't change much. The overhead conditions also matter in this part of the world. We have adapted well, hopefully another game where we put up a show. Every game matters in this tournament, nothing changes. We are playing the same team," Rohit said.

India and Australia Clash in Crucial T20 World Cup MatchThe highly anticipated clash between India and Australia in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup is set to take place at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia. With both teams vying for a spot in the semifinals, the stakes are incredibly high.India, led by Rohit Sharma, has been in impressive form, securing commanding wins over Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Their batting lineup has been firing on all cylinders, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav leading the charge. The bowling unit, anchored by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, has also been solid.Australia, on the other hand, has had a mixed tournament so far. After a disappointing loss to Afghanistan, they bounced back with a victory over Bangladesh. Captain Mitchell Marsh will be looking for his team to put in a complete performance and overcome the challenge posed by India.The pitch report suggests that there will be some assistance for both pacers and spinners. The dimensions of the square boundaries are 66 meters and 69 meters, with a 78-meter straight hit. The weather forecast is uncertain, but the hope is that the rain will stay away.India will be aiming to secure a win by any margin to guarantee their qualification for the semifinals. Australia, on the other hand, needs a big enough win to surpass India on NRR. If they fail to do so, they will be hoping for a favorable outcome in the match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the world's top cricket teams. The atmosphere is sure to be electric as both teams battle it out for a place in the semifinals.

The T20 World Cup 2024 Group 1 in Super 8 has taken an intriguing turn, with no team yet assured of a semi-final berth and none eliminated. India, Australia, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh remain in contention, with the outcome of the remaining matches holding the key.India, currently leading the points table with four points from two games, will secure a semi-final spot if they defeat Australia on Monday or if the match is washed out. Australia, with two points from one game, can advance if they beat India. However, even if they lose or the match is washed out, Australia can still qualify if Bangladesh beats Afghanistan or the match is washed out.Afghanistan, with two points from two games, can advance if they beat Bangladesh and their run-rate is better than either Australia or India. Bangladesh, currently without points, can qualify if India beats Australia and they beat Bangladesh by a significant margin, improving their net run rate.The probability of each team qualifying for the semi-finals, as per Star Sports, is as follows:* India: 80%* Australia: 60%* Afghanistan: 40%* Bangladesh: 20%Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja expressed his surprise at Afghanistan's stunning victory over Australia, praising their strength as a team. He urged Australia to move past the defeat and focus on the crucial match against India, considering both teams to be among the best in the world.Khawaja emphasized the importance of the upcoming game against India, labeling it as a "do or die" scenario for Australia. He expressed confidence in the team's process-oriented approach under Mitchell Starc and Andrew McDonald.Khawaja also highlighted the growing popularity of T20 cricket, noting its ability to engage a broader community and attract more girls and mothers to the sport. He pointed to the inclusion of the USA in the Super Eight as evidence of the format's global reach.

Australian opener David Warner has come to the defense of Indian batter Virat Kohli, who has faced criticism for his strike rate in recent T20 World Cup matches. Warner believes that Kohli's passion and determination make him a formidable opponent and that the criticism he receives is unwarranted."He's got a knack for indetermination just for scoring runs and hunger to score runs," Warner said of Kohli. "You know, he cops a lot of criticism, which is not right. I don't know why he cops it, but there are a lot of people out there who are big Virat supporters, like all of us."Warner also highlighted Kohli's competitive spirit, which he believes adds an extra dimension to matches between India and Australia. "He consistently goes about his business how he does. You know, he scores a lot of runs. He's a good team man and he competes hard. And that's what we like about coming up against the Indian cricket team."Australian spinner Adam Zampa echoed Warner's sentiments, acknowledging the challenge of facing a batting lineup that includes Kohli and Rohit Sharma. "You look down the India's line up, Virat, Rohit. All those guys were obvious names who've been around for a long time," Zampa said.Tim David, another Australian player, praised Rohit's batting prowess and his determination to win a world championship. "Something about Rohit is that naturally, he's so good to watch how he plays. He's effortless the way he bats," David said. "But I think he's got to care about his teammates, which obviously he's in that role as India's captain. And I know that he's pretty hungry for a world title as well."Despite the challenges posed by India's batting lineup, the Australian team remains confident in their abilities. They believe that their own batting strength and bowling depth will give them a competitive edge in the Super Eight matches.

India vs Australia: India Aims to Derail Australia's T20 World Cup HopesFollowing their unexpected loss to Afghanistan, Australia's fate in the T20 World Cup now rests on the outcome of Afghanistan's final match against Bangladesh. A third consecutive victory for India would not only secure their position as group leaders and a spot in the semifinals but also significantly jeopardize Australia's chances of advancing.India will be determined to disrupt Australia's World Cup campaign when they face off in their final Super 8 match on Monday. The Australians, reeling from their shock defeat, will be under immense pressure to perform.Australia's loss to Afghanistan has opened the door for India to potentially eliminate their arch-rivals from the tournament. A victory for India would leave Australia needing a significant win over Bangladesh in their final match to qualify for the semifinals.However, India will not be taking Australia lightly. The defending champions have a formidable lineup and will be eager to bounce back from their loss. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul will be key players for India, while Australia will rely on the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith, and Glenn Maxwell.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the tournament favorites. India will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure a spot in the semifinals, while Australia will be desperate to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

India vs Australia T20 World Cup: India Eye Revenge and Semifinal BerthIndia and Australia will clash in a crucial T20 World Cup match on Monday, with both teams aiming for a semifinal berth. India is the favorite heading into the match, having won their first two games convincingly. Australia, on the other hand, suffered a shock defeat to Afghanistan in their previous match.India is expected to field an unchanged playing XI, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the bowling attack. Australia may consider bringing back Mitchell Starc, who was rested against Afghanistan.Australia captain Mitchell Marsh knows that his team must overcome the mental scars of their defeat to Afghanistan. He believes that the team's short history of success will bring out the best in his players.The Darren Sammy International Stadium in St Lucia has been a high-scoring venue, with scores ranging from 180-220. The weather forecast for Monday is partly sunny with a thunderstorm in parts of the area.India has a strong record against Australia in T20Is, winning 12 of their 22 encounters. However, Australia has won the last two matches between the two teams.A win for India will not only seal their place in the semifinals but also eliminate Australia from the tournament. It would also be a sweet revenge for India, who lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup final in November.