Rohit Sharma rediscovered his form in explosive fashion on Monday, smashing the fastest fifty of the T20 World Cup 2024 to propel India to a flying start against Australia in their Super 8 clash.

Opting to field first, Australia were left reeling by Sharma's onslaught. The Indian captain, dismissed cheaply against Bangladesh in the previous match, wasted no time in making amends. He reached his half-century in just 19 balls. However, his innings were cut short at 92 runs, just 8 shy of a century, as Starc bowled a yorker that shattered the stumps.

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Sharma's knock was a masterclass in power-hitting. He particularly targeted left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who bore the brunt of the early carnage. Four sixes and a four came off Starc's third over alone, with Sharma taking a particular liking to the bowler's width.

Sharma's knock helped India recover from an early setback after losing Virat Kohli for a duck in the second over. The Men in Blue capitalized on the momentum, racing to 60 for 1 at the end of the powerplay and subsequently reaching 100 in just 8.4 overs - the fastest in T20 World Cup history.

This dominant display puts India in a strong position to secure a semi-final berth. Australia, on the other hand, are in a precarious situation following their defeat to Afghanistan and desperately need a win to stay alive in the tournament. Their qualification hopes now hinge on the outcome of the final Super 8 clash between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, later on Monday.