ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma dismisses ball-tampering allegations ahead of semi-final
Xtra Time Web Desk: India captain Rohit Sharma laughed off allegations of ball-tampering against Indian bowlers, addressing the press on the eve of India's T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against England. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq accused Arshdeep Singh of tampering with the ball during their game against Australia in the Super 8 stage, but Rohit was quick to dismiss these claims as baseless.
Rohit Sharma called on critics to understand the playing conditions before making unfounded accusations. "What answer will I give? If you are playing under the sun and the wickets are this dry, the ball will reverse on its own. The ball is reversing for all teams, not just for us. Sometimes, it's important to open your mind (use your brain). You have to understand where we are playing. We are not playing in England or Australia," he stated.
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The controversy arose after Arshdeep Singh's impressive performance against Australia, where he utilized reverse swing to secure crucial wickets, including David Warner, Tim David, and Matthew Wade, leading India to a 24-run victory. Inzamam-ul-Haq's live television remarks suggested the umpires should be more vigilant, implying early reverse swing was suspicious. "Arshdeep Singh, when he was bowling the 15th over, the ball was reversing. Is it too early (for reverse swing) with the new ball? This means the ball was ready for reverse swing by the 12th or the 13th over. Umpires should keep their eyes open (to spot) these things," Inzamam claimed.
This isn't the first time former Pakistan players have made controversial claims against Indian bowlers. During the 2023 World Cup, former cricketer Hasan Raza accused India of using chips inside the ball, targeting Mohammed Shami's successful spells. Shami humorously refuted these allegations, "Does this ball have any device? When I heard this, I wondered 'how can someone ask such a stupid question?' Even I think about it now, and I am not able to control my laughter."
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Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram previously addressed and debunked similar bizarre allegations, explaining the stringent process of ball selection in international matches. Rohit Sharma's recent comments continue to uphold the integrity of the Indian team, urging critics to be more mindful and informed before making such claims.
As India prepares for the crucial semi-final, Rohit's calm and composed leadership remains a cornerstone, guiding the team through distractions and maintaining focus on their World Cup campaign.
