Australia has officially been eliminated from the T20 Cup after Mitchell Starc and the Australian bowlers faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Rohit Sharma and Team India on Monday In a must-win match to secure a spot in the semi-finals, Australia fell short by 24 runs against India in St Lucia.

With their fate hanging in the balance, Afghanistan had the opportunity to knock Australia out of the tournament by defeating Bangladesh on Monday night (Tuesday morning in Australia). In a stunning turn of events, Afghanistan managed to secure an eight-run victory, sealing Australia's fate. Bangladesh's victory could have salvaged Australia's chances, but the Tigers narrowly missed out in a nail-biting final match of the Super 8 stage.

Australia's disappointing performance can be attributed to a series of errors, including subpar fielding in their unexpected loss to Afghanistan. The situation worsened on Monday as their bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batting lineup. Starc, in particular, faced a tough outing, conceding the most runs in an over in his T20 international career, giving away 29 runs in just six balls as Rohit Sharma unleashed a barrage of powerful shots.

Rohit's explosive innings of 92 runs from 41 balls propelled India to a formidable total of 5-205 while batting first. Travis Head's valiant 76 offered a glimmer of hope for Australia, but their innings concluded at 7-181, falling short of the target. Now, Australia's fate hinges on Bangladesh defeating Afghanistan in the upcoming matches.

Following the defeat, Australian captain Mitch Marsh expressed his disappointment, acknowledging India's superior performance. Despite still technically being in contention for a semi-final spot, Australia recognizes the uphill battle ahead. Rohit's dominant display, including eight sixes and seven fours, left the Australian bowlers reeling and struggling to contain the onslaught.

Although Josh Hazlewood managed to break India's momentum with a stellar bowling performance, taking 1-14 off his four overs, the damage had already been done. Starc redeemed himself slightly by dismissing Rohit with a well-executed yorker, but it was too late to alter the course of the match.

Rohit Sharma, rightfully named the player of the match, attributed his success to strategic gameplay and adaptability. His rapid half-century off just 19 balls set a new record against Australia, showcasing his prowess with the bat. Despite the valiant efforts of some Australian bowlers, the relentless onslaught from Rohit and Team India proved insurmountable, sealing Australia's elimination from the T20 World Cup.