'Selfless Rohit Sharma doesn't want to have hundred centuries' - Mohammad Hafeez takes a dig at Virat Kohli

Former Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has hailed India captain Rohit Sharma for leading his team from the very front during the crucial Super 8 clash against Australia in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

While India were in a strong position to qualify for the semifinals, a loss against Australia could have complicated the situation. However, Rohit Sharma did not let such a situation arise as he blew Australia away with one of the best knocks by an Indian player in the T20 World Cup history.

Asked to bat first, India were off to a terrible start with struggling Virat Kohli getting out for a duck in the second over. However, Rohit Sharma did not let Australia capitalize on the early breakthrough as he launched a stunning assault on them. He eventually scored 92 runs from just 41 balls with the help of 7 fours and a record 8 sixes.

Thanks to his knock, India posted a mammoth 205/5, their highest total in the ongoing T20 World Cup. India went on to restrict Australia to 181 for 7 to win the game by 24 runs and stormed into the semifinals in style.

It was a Rohit show: Mohammad Hafeez

Following Rohit Sharma's heroics against Australia, Mohammad Hafeez has heaped praise on him and has said that the India skipper deserves to win the World Cup for his fearless display. In a video shared on X, the former Pakistan cricketer stated that it was a Rohit show and called the knock one of the best from a captain.

"When you set big goals then your pedigree increases. If I talk about Rohit, India’s leadership deserves to win the World Cup. The way he played unconditional cricket like a champion player. He didn’t care if there was any seam or swing," said Mohammad Hafeez.

"Special effort and you can’t praise anyone enough when you weigh their performances with Rohit, others efforts would only look smaller. Rohit is the only person at the moment who deserves to win this World Cup for India."

"It was a Rohit show. We witnessed one of the best innings from a captain. If you speak about leading from the front. He changed just one thing, there was no doubt about his quality. One thing, he changed within himself was the selfless approach," he added.

Speaking further, Mohammad Hafeez praised Rohit Sharma for his selfless approach with the bat since becoming the captain. Hafeez also recalled last year's ODI World Cup where Rohit led his team from the very front and guided it to a runners-up finish. Rohit received praise not only for his captaincy but his batting as well.

"The way he has evolved with the game, he was an exceptional player but has gone to a great zone just by changing to selfless approach.”

"The way he played his innings, he planned this last year and started the execution accordingly. If you see the last 50-over World Cup, he was the standout performer for India. Regardless of the situation, he was playing selfless.

"The most impressing part of his innings was that he was not thinking about any of his milestones and was hitting the ball accordingly. And at the post-match he said, '50s and 100s doesn't matter to me now'. Because he knows what he wants to be, he doesn't want to be having a hundred centuries. He wants to be a champion player, who will always be remembered, winning ICC trophies," said Hafeez.

Meanwhile, India will be taking on the defending champions in the semifinal of the ongoing T20 World Cup. The game is scheduled to be played on Thursday (June 27).