'Hardik Pandya was used in 16th over' - Zaheer Khan's stunning verdict on Rohit Sharma's captaincy in T20 WC

Former India cricketer Zaheer Khan lauded Team India skipper Rohit Sharma for his exceptional leadership in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 against England. He said that the captain of the team was phenomenal with his rotation of bowlers.

India captain Rohit Sharma ticked every almost box correct in the semi-final against England. The opening batter was spot on with his leadership as well as the batting at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The skipper first led from the front with the bat and took his team to a winning total. 

Rohit Sharma played an innings of blistering 57 runs and set the platform for the other batters as India posted a total of 171 runs on the board. However, after that, the way he rotated his bowlers was sensational as everything he touched turned into gold as Indian bowlers were all over the England batters. 

Rohit Sharma managed the spinners pretty well and the bowlers repaid his faith. The duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav picked three wickets each as India bundled out England for just 101 runs to win the game by 68 runs and advance to the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. 

Zaheer Khan was in awe of Rohit Sharma's leadership against England. He stated that the India captain catches the pulse of the game very nicely and pointed out how he has been using Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah in the T20 World Cup 2024. Speaking on Cricbuzz, he explained: 

"He is phenomenal with that. You know, we've seen it over the years now. He's got the pulse. He catches the pulse of the game very nicely. And that is something that he did today as well. The fact that I mentioned earlier, Hardik was used straight in the 16th over. So, he was smart with knowing that, okay, today's pitch, spinners are going to come into play. 

"So, let's get the spinners early in the game, Axar, he's been using in the powerplay. But his pattern up front has become a little more aggressive than what he has been so far. He used to hold Bumrah back maybe three overs after the powerplay. This World Cup, he's been using him up front with the new ball one over and then to finish the powerplay and then setting the game up that way, which has become a huge advantage." 

He's got a good feel of the game - Zaheer Khan on Rohit Sharma 

Zaheer Khan further claimed that Rohit Sharma was spot on with his changes with the ball in the game against England. He pointed out how the captain continued with the spinners after the wickets started falling. He elaborated: 

"And also today, he knew that Jadeja also will come into play later. And 10 or 12 overs also of spin is possible to be squeezed in on this surface and to create that pressure to get the dot balls in. So, he was spot on with all those changes. Wickets were falling, so that just aided his thought process and he just continued with that. But generally, he's got a good feel of the game." 

Rohit Sharma-led India has reached the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. They will be taking on South Africa in the summit clash on Saturday (29th June) at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.