Watch: Rohit Sharma hit the first six of the 2023 World Cup final with a huge six over square-leg off Josh Hazlewood, giving him his fourth boundary off the seamer in two overs.

Rohit’s innings initially got off to a slow start after Australia opted to bat first in Ahmedabad. The pitch looked slow and not conducive to the kind of hitting Rohit had displayed throughout the group stages of the tournament. Nevertheless, he opened his boundary account in the second over of the game, muscling Hazlewood for back-to-back fours through both sides of the wicket.

Back on strike for Hazlewood’s next over, Rohit attempted a pull but mistimed it, the ball falling narrowly short of the fielder at deep-square-leg. However, he nailed the shot off Hazlewood’s fifth ball. Sent down a short delivery, Rohit picked it up early and heaved it into the leg side off the front foot. There was enough power on the shot to send it several rows back into the crowd just in front of square.

That shot gave India their first six of the final and drew huge cheers from the six-figure strong home crowd. The India captain gave them more the cheer for off the next ball as well, clubbing a length ball from Hazlewood straight through mid-on for a four.

At the end of Hazlewood’s second over, the fourth of the match, Rohit had reached 25 off 19 balls with India’s score at 30-0. Shubman Gill was out in the next over however, returning for just four runs from seven balls, and giving Australia their first breakthrough.

Watch: Rohit Sharma clubs first six of the World Cup final

 

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