ICC CWC 2019: Rohit Sharma’s message to fans after a heartbreaking loss in the semis

XtraTime Web Desk: After losing the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, India’s most successful batsman in the tournament Rohit Sharma they failed to do well on a crucial time and thanked fans for their constant support to India throughout the tournament.

“We failed to deliver as a team when it mattered, 30 minutes of poor cricket yesterday & that snatched away our chance for the cup. My heart is heavy as I’m sure yours is too.The support away from home was incredible.Thank you all for painting most of uk blue wherever we played,” he tweeted on Thursday.

Sharma is the highest run-getter of the tournament as he amassed 648 runs. Moreover, he scripted history by scoring five centuries in a single edition of the quadrennial tournament.

India, who had topped the points table, faced fourth-positioned New Zealand on July 9. However, after 46.1 overs, the match moved to the reserve day due to rain. Continuing the match on the next day, New Zealand finished at a total of 240 runs.

India’s top-order crumbled as they were on just five runs after the loss of three wickets in four overs. All three top-order batsmen – Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli- scored just one run.


However, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni played cautiously and tried to save the sinking Indian side. Jadeja scored 77 runs while Dhoni played a knock of 50 runs.


After the wickets of Jadeja and Dhoni, the match slipped from India’s hands and New Zealand easily registered an 18-run victory to secure their spot in the tournament’s final.


New Zealand will face England, who defeated Australia by eight wickets in the second semi-final on Thursday, for the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s on July 14.