Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after falling victim to an all-out assault from Rohit Sharma and being beaten by 24 runs by India.

After Rohit’s 92 from 41 balls helped India post 5-205 in St Lucia, Travis Head’s 76 kept Australia in the game before they finished 7-181 in reply.

The result means their World Cup will be over if Afghanistan beat Bangladesh later on Tuesday (AEDT), following defeats in Australia’s last two games.

A Bangladesh win would likely see Australia progress to face South Africa in the semi-finals, unless the Tigers are able to win by a significant margin and leapfrog Mitch Marsh’s men on net run-rate.

Australia were always on the back foot at Daren Sammy Stadium on Tuesday.

Rohit took charge when he helped crunch 29 runs from the third over of the game off Mitchell Starc, after the left-armer was recalled in place of spinner Ashton Agar.

Starc (2-45) wasn’t alone in copping punishment, with Pat Cummins (0-48), Adam Zampa (0-41) and Marcus Stoinis (2-56) all going at more than 10 an over.

In a brutal display of hitting Rohit smashed eight sixes and seven fours, clearing the boundary over cover and mid-wicket with a mixture of brilliant timing and sheer power.

Rohit’s 19-ball 50 marked the fastest ever against Australia, with his dominance clear in the fact India’s team score was 1-52 when he passed the milestone.

Only Josh Hazlewood was able to slow India down, appearing as if he was bowling on a different pitch with his 1-14 after removing Virat Kohli for a duck early.

Starc also did well to rebound late, bowling Robit with a yorker that hit both bat and pad on the way through.

But by then, the damage was done.

Australia lost an edging David Warner in the first over of the chase for six, in what will be the veteran opener’s last international match if his team do not progress.

Mitch Marsh offered hope of a captain’s knock with 37 from 28 balls, but the match swung when he was superbly caught by a jumping Axar Patel on the boundary.