Rohit Sharma Dropped Twice in Two Overs – Will Australia Regret It?

Dubai March 4: In a game in which every opportunity counts, Australia might just have given Rohit Sharma the key to playing a match-winning game. The Indian captain, notorious for taking early opportunities and then going big, was missed out on two opportunities in successive overs as India hunted down against Australia in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy. With an absolute spot being lost, the two missed chances might prove very expensive for the Aussies.

With a score of 264 on the board, Australia needed wickets early to apply pressure on India. Australia's bowlers started on intent, but their fielders let them down in critical situations. Rohit, used to jumping on the lapses of opposition teams, was given two lives in addition to the normal one in a span of a very short time.

The initial drop came when Travis Head dropped a chance of cover. Rohit made the incorrect judgment call on the shot, and the ball went directly to Head, but he let it slip. As soon as the Indian crowd breathed a sigh of relief, they had another chance for Australia in the following over. This time, it was Pat Cummins who was unable to take the catch, adding more misery for Australia.

Social media erupted in a flurry of responses, with most Indian supporters wallowing in Rohit's luck and Australian fans fuming. Cricket supporters salivated over past examples where dropped catches against Rohit had resulted in gargantuan centuries for him, particularly his game-winning 264-run score against Sri Lanka in 2014, where he had also been offered his life in the early stages of the match.

With two lifelines in his pocket, the responsibility now rested on Rohit to use it. Would he take these chances and guide India to another ICC final, or would Australia be able to get him out before he causes heavy damage?

As the game goes on, one thing is sure—dropped catches always return to haunt teams, especially when the batter at the crease is Rohit Sharma.