Cricket World Cup 2023

Watch: Rohit Sharma hits back-to-back boundaries off Josh Hazlewood to start off the World Cup final

by Wisden Staff November 19, 2023 - 8:37am 2 minute read

Watch: Rohit Sharma hit two back-to-back boundaries to get India going in the final of the 2023 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today (November 19).

Australia won the toss for the big game and elected to field first at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where three out of the last four games have been won by the chasing team. Both teams went in unchanged.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who have given consistently strong starts to India throughout the World Cup, started on a positive note once again in the final.

Mitchell Starc took the first over for Australia, conceding just three runs as Rohit took his time to get his eye in. However, as Josh Hazlewood came on from the other end for the second over, Rohit cut loose.

The first ball was edged past slip for two. The second ball fetched India their first boundary of the final as Rohit smashed a half volley outside off through cover to set the tone. The very next ball, a length ball on the stumps was heaved across the line by Rohit to the square leg fence.

He tried another similar hoick across the line on the last ball of the over, but missed. In Hazelwood’s next over, Rohit took him down with a six and a four. By the end of four overs, India raced off to 30-0.

Australia, however, came back strongly as Starc removed Gill in the next over, getting him caught at mid-on as he tried one of his favourite short-arm jabs.