(Credit Harsha Bhogle)
Harsha Bhogle praised Rohit Sharma for his dynamic batting displays during the T20 World Cup 2024, highlighting his aggressive approach and high strike rate that contributed significantly to India’s championship triumph in Barbados. Rohit Sharma, captaining India, led his team to victory in the final against South Africa, securing the title with a thrilling seven-run win on June 29.
The 37-year-old, announcing his retirement from T20I cricket along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja post World Cup victory, emerged as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer. Across eight innings, Sharma amassed 257 runs at a striking rate of 156.70, featuring crucial innings against Australia (Super-8) and England (semi-final) that propelled India to the ultimate showdown.
Harsha Bhogle – No Doubt About My First Opener
Harsha Bhogle selected Rohit Sharma as his preferred opener and captain for his T20 World Cup 2024 dream team, praising Sharma’s skill in balancing calculated risks with maintaining a consistently high strike rate throughout the competition.
“No doubt about my first opener; that was Rohit Sharma, who played some defining innings in this tournament. He was always propping up India in a certain way but also brought into this idea of batting with a very high strike rate and slightly higher risk compared to everywhere else. When he got going, he was sensational. So, Rohit Sharma is in as captain because he was just good at what he did,” Bhogle said.
Following MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma became only the second Indian captain to clinch the T20 World Cup title, bringing an end to India’s 11-year wait for an ICC trophy. Rohit, wrapping up his T20I career, emerged as India’s leading run-scorer in the format with 4,231 runs from 159 matches, including five centuries and 32 half-centuries.
Harsha Bhogle – Makes The Team As The Wicketkeeper
Harsha Bhogle deliberated between Travis Head and Quinton de Kock for the second opener slot but ultimately selected Rahmanullah Gurbaz for his standout performances. Bhogle noted Gurbaz’s role in setting the tone for his team, particularly through impactful opening partnerships with Ibrahim Zadran, notably against Australia.
“For the second opener, I had a few thoughts. Always good to have a left-hander, Travis Head had his moments in this World Cup. Quinton de Kock also had his moments; he would also have been the wicketkeeper in this side. But I found it very difficult to go beyond Rahmanullah Gurbaz. It was his opening partnership with Ibrahim Zadran that set the tone for some of their most famous wins, including that one against Australia. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is my other opener, even though he’s right-handed, and makes the team as the wicketkeeper,” Bhogle added.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz emerged as the top scorer of the tournament, amassing 281 runs in eight matches at an average of 35.13 and a strike rate of 124.34. The wicketkeeper-batsman recorded three half-centuries, with a best of 80 against New Zealand, and notably scored 60 runs against Australia during the Super 8 stage.
In addition, Harsha Bhogle selected five more Indian players for his Team of the Tournament: Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.
Harsha Bhogle’s Team – Rohit Sharma (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nicholas Pooran, Suryakumar Yadav, Marcus Stoinis, Heinrich Klaasen, Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
